FORMER TÁNAISTE and leader of the Labour Party Dick Spring yesterday criticised the Government for "running in different directions" rather than attacking the problem of the economic crisis, and said Labour would win a European seat in the Ireland South elections on June 5th.
In doing so they would regain "the Labour seat" held by the late Eileen Desmond between 1979 and 1984, Mr Spring said.
He was speaking in Tralee at a press conference with Labour party candidate Senator Alan Kelly.
Mr Kelly said he would not be entering a voting transfer pact with anyone, and this included his namesake the Fine Gael candidate Sean Kelly.
The 33-year-old Senator and UCC graduate said he expected support across the parties and particularly from young people.
All three current Ireland South MEPs - Kathy Sinnott, Colm Burke, and Brian Crowley were from Cork and there was a need for a representative "from outside Cork city".
Mr Spring, one of two Government appointees on the board of AIB as part of the Government's recapitalisation plan, said the Government was deciding one thing one week and discoverng a legal difficulty the next week .
Saying unemployment was the big issue on the doorsteps of north Kerry, Mr Spring, who has been actively canvassing for the party, also criticised the IDA and Shannon Development in the wake of the announced closures of the German-owned Amann Industries two weeks ago.
"The Government need to be proactive rather than reacting," he said.