Labour news:The Labour Party national executive council will meet next week to review its disappointing election performance, which saw the party squeezed between its alliance for change partner Fine Gael and the main government party Fianna Fáil.
It is understood that the party's election strategy will be heavily discussed and analysed at the meeting. Yesterday Labour's Wexford TD Brendan Howlin, who had opposed the alliance strategy at a Labour party conference in 2004, said that the party got squeezed and will have to give thought now to seeing how it can move forward.
Former party organiser Pat Magnier said in retrospect the alliance did not work out and the party would have to look again at its strategy.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said that the strategy with Fine Gael "wasn't anything casual" and was "considered and deliberate". Conceding that Bertie Ahern will be elected taoiseach when the Dáil resumes, Mr Rabbitte said the people had spoken.
Asked if the failure of the alliance bid for power brought his leadership into question, Mr Rabbitte said: "I think you are jumping a great deal of bridges. The seats haven't even been decided yet." He said he would continue to service the people of Dublin South West and added: "I'm going nowhere."