Gilmore Elected To Labour Leadership

Promises "Project Of Renewal" For Party And Country

Eamon Gilmore, T.D. was formally announced as the new leader of Ireland's Labour Party on Thursday.

Mr Gilmore, who serves as member of the Dail for Dun Laoghaire, was the only candidate for the leadership position and was elected unopposed.

He succeeds Pat Rabbitte who stepped down as leader two weeks ago after his party failed to meet expectations in the General Election in May.

Fifty-two-year-old Gilmore is a former student leader and union official. He was first elected to the Dail in 1989 and served as a junior minister from 1994 to 1997.

Promising to lead his party on a "Project of Renewal, not just of the party itself, but of the country and of its politics and of our society," he told party workers that, "To help change Ireland for the better, Labour itself has to change.

"We need to change the way we organise, becoming more open to new members and new candidates.

"We have to change the way we communicate, applying the most modern methods to get across our message.

"We have to be more positive, telling people what we are for and not just what we oppose.

"And we have to bond better with our voters and our potential voters to construct a new politics for and of the new Ireland."

"In my entire life I have never been as energised or motivated by a challenge such as the one I am now undertaking.

"But I know I have the support and the comradeship of the Labour Parliamentary Party and of the members of the Labour Party. And I know too that we have the goodwill of many, many more.

"Most people in this country want Labour to do better because they trust Labour to do our very best for the country.

"All I ask now, is that Labour gets a fair hearing as we begin the process of renewal."

Two names were received for the position of Deputy Leader, Jan O'Sullivan T.D., and Joan Burton T.D.

The election for Deputy Leader will be closed at noon on October 4th. In the meantime both candidates are embarking on a hustings tour of the country.

Taoiseach Praises New Leader

The Taoiseach wished the new Labour leader well on his appointment telling reporters that he "is a long serving and experienced member of the Dail Eireann.

"Since first being elected TD for Dun Laoghaire in 1989 Deputy Gilmore has proven to be very effective public representative and has made a significant contribution to the work of Dail Eireann.

"His career has spanned student politics, the trade union movement and party politics, culminating in his election as Teachta Dála and ultimately as leader of the Labour Party.

"Today is a very significant day in his long political career.

"His appointment as leader is a great honour for him and for his family and supporters.

"I wish Deputy Gilmore well in his new role as leader of the Labour Party."