Labour to put its policies 'separately' to the people

LABOUR PARTY POLICY:THE LABOUR Party will put its policies "separately and distinctly to the Irish people", Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said yesterday.

Asked about forming a set of common policies with Fine Gael, Gilmore said: “We are two separate political parties. We have some differences, yes. The Labour Party will be putting in its programme its set of policies and our distinct view of how a country should be run.”

He said the next election would be a three-way contest between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.

Gilmore said Labour and Fine Gael had different positions on some issues. “That is what an election resolves,” he said on RTÉ news last night.

Gilmore said Labour would be supporting the motion of no-confidence being put forward by Fine Gael this week. However, he did not think it should even go to a vote for a motion of no-confidence because the Government should respond to the verdict of the Irish people. “Last Friday was a referendum on the Government’s conduct of the country’s affairs. The Irish people have spoken that they want this Government out as soon as possible.”

Speaking on RTÉ news, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he “respected Eamon Gilmore’s point of view” on wanting to keep plans separate, and Fine Gael would be setting out its own plans.