Tipperary’s Labour Party Minister of State, Mr Allan Kelly, has now confirmed his intention to run for the post of Deputy Leader of the Irish Labour Party and not Leader as previously indicated.
Mr Kelly was proposed and seconded by TDs Mr Willie Penrose and Mr Robert Dowds and joined in his public announcement outside the Dail by Ann Phelan, Ged Nash, Senators John Kelly, John Whelan and his proposers Penrose and Dowds.
The current Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton yesterday announced that it was her intention to run for the position of leadership within the Party.
The nominations for Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader will remain open to members until Tuesday next.
Four other party members are also expected to declare their interest in leading the Party in the coming days; namely Labour’s Michael McCarthy, TD Mr Arthur Spring, Dominic Hannigan and Minister of State at the Department of Health Mr Alex White, who have all indicated that they may consider putting their names forward for one or other of the current positions now on offer, in the coming days.
Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin has to date ruled himself out of the upcoming contest.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announced on Monday last that he was standing down as Party Leader, following the huge losses incurred by the Labour Party recently, in both the European and Local Elections.
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