THE TÁNAISTE HAS indicated that Labour will push for a renewal of the direction of the government.

Speaking at the James Connolly Commemoration at Arbour Hill, Eamon Gilmore said that “now is time for renewal”.

Saying that the coalition had “steered the country some of its darkest times”, Gilmore spoke of renewal of purpose.

“It has not been easy for our people, or for our party. But it has been for a purpose. Recovery is not an end in itself. Rather, it is the new foundation on which to build a better, fairer Ireland.

“That means, when profits return – as they are in some sectors – the beneficiaries have to be those in the middle and at the bottom, and not just those at the top.

“They are the new choices that are facing Government today; and they are facing us, as a party in Government.”

Speaking before delivering the speech, Gilmore said that his party would not be renegotiating the programme for government, but indicated in his speech that the focus would have to be on avoiding trickle-down economics.

Economic peace and prosperity has to bring with it a social dividend, for the people whose sacrifice got us here. People in the middle, and on the margins, who did so little to cause the crisis, but who paid such a high price for it.

“And it means making choices to grow opportunities from the bottom up, rather than hoping they will simply trickle down.”

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