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JOAN BURTON HAS has told Labour members that the party will be a “sensible voice of opposition in contrast to the parties of protest and populism” in the wake of its worst election ever.
The party leader said Labour must ”reflect, rebuild and renew” in the wake of the general election.
The Tánaiste has written an email to all of the party’s members and supporters in the wake of its disastrous general election result, which saw its Dáil numbers reduced from 33 to just seven.
The last of these TDs, the long-serving Willie Penrose, was re-elected in Longford-Westmeath this morning.
In her e-mail to members this afternoon, Burton said it has been a “tough week” for the party with the result coming as “a huge disappointment to all of us”.
“We believe we have done very positive work for the country over the last five years, but, unfortunately, people have had to endure a lot and the government parties have borne the brunt,” she wrote.
Burton said the election of Penrose was “one small positive” as it gives the party speaking rights in the next Dáil.
She confirmed the party would go into opposition, saying:
This means that our parliamentary team can position ourselves as a sensible voice of opposition in contrast to the parties of protest and populism.
Burton said her thoughts are with friends and colleagues as well as activists, campaigners and members who worked “so hard during one of the most difficult elections in our history”.
“We are all hurting. But we should always be proud to be Labour Party members, and to continue to work for a better and fairer future for all,” she added.
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Very sad. Young woman, may heaven be her bed. RIP.
That is so sad, another person taken well before their time by this horrible disease.
RIP put up a great fight. Will they ever find a cure for this
@Derek O Gorman: Rest in peace Shannon may you find peace now. To answer your question I doubt there’ll ever be a cure too many plarma companies making billions on R&D and medications it’s like diabetes there’ll never be a cure.
@Nemethon: Do pharma companies make billions on R&D?
@Nemethon: The average R&D to marketplace cost for a new medicine is nearly €4 billion, and can sometimes exceed €10 billion. R&D spending by itself doesn’t guarantee profitability and strong stock performance. Some companies see a payoff from spending heavily on R&D when projects are deemed to be successful. On the other hand, companies can also suffer from poor performance losses even after investing a great deal of money each year in R&D
@ecrowley ecrowley: Not directly, but in Ireland R&D expenses are deducted from profit when calculating capital gains tax. And not only on R&D costs occuring in country, which is ridiculous. The large pharmas are not just here for the craic.
@Tommy Roche: Do you think they’re not spending money on R&D? If they’re not but availing of tax loopholes, that’d be unforgivable but without knowing that’s happening, we’re heading towards conspiracy theory territory.
@Nemethon: You mean it costs billions in R&D. There is a question as to how much profits are enough but it costs an awful lot to develop these drugs many of which don’t come to anything after hundreds of millions spent.
@Derek O Gorman: they have invented a smoking cessation product which prevents cancer, but governments want it banned
She found hard and long…time to rest now
May she rest in peace.
Rose to fame playing Brenda Walsh? She was already well known. Our House, Little House on the Praire etc. RIP
@Gerard Hayden: she was in little house on the praire? I used to watch that and never knew she was in it.
@Brian Dunne: yes was Laura ingles adopted daughter I think?
@Lilly Lalogue: ah ok, thanks Lilly!
@Brian Dunne: yea she played Jenny Wilder ;). She was also good in the film Heathers. May she R.J.P. cancer is an awful battle for anyone to go through bless her.
@Lilly Lalogue: no she was Laura’s niece :)
RIP. She really really fought back against that illness. Strong resilient person.
Rip poor young woman
Very sad. RiP Shannen
She is with God now
Rip i taught she died few weeks ago
@Square: what an a##hole you are
@Robert M: muted
@Square: Obviously not, don’t talk of cancer patients like that. She was a legend. I have great respect for her.
@Paul Treacy: im not talking bad i taught i heard she died few weeks ago i was wrong rip yes i watched her growing up
Shame a brilliant actress rip
Lord rest
She was a lovely woman and a great fighter. It’s so sad she died so young.
She was a notoriously difficult actor to work with but that doesn’t take away from her sad passing.
RIP her suffering is over
@Damien O’Sullivan: She had a reputation for being difficult because she stood up for herself and would not allow herself to be taken advantage of. Many women who followed her in the business admired her for how she stood. A woman like that is “difficult”. A man like that is “strong”!
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