SINN FÉIN TD Pearse Doherty has said Labour should pull out of the coalition government if the party really wants to make a difference to politics in Ireland.

The Donegal South West TD said Sinn Féin would only consider any kind of coalition with Labour in future if the party withdrew from its coalition with Fine Gael.

He was responding to a report today in which Labour chief whip Emmet Stagg said he could see Labour and Sinn Féin working together in the future, possibly in a coalition government.

“If Emmet Stagg or anyone else in the Labour Party is really seeking a new form of politics and a stronger left in Ireland then the first thing they need to do is pull out of the coalition with Fine Gael,” said Doherty.

He said the two Government parties are imposing an “austerity regime” on the Irish people which is causing unemployment, poverty, emigration and the erosion of public services.

“As Labour chief whip, Deputy Stagg has ensured that Labour TDs have supported this austerity regime through thick and thin, despite the cost to the many people who voted for the Labour Party in the hope of real change,” said Doherty.

“Let the Labour Party pull out of this coalition and then the possibility of co-operation among parties of the left can be looked at realistically,” he said.

Labour minister Brendan Howlin is one of several party TDS who have acknowledged the anger directed at Labour – as seen in repeated opinion polls – but said that the party remains committed to making difficult economic adjustments “in as fair a way as possible”.

Howlin: Labour will quit coalition if its influence is not strong enough >

Read: Only 11 per cent of people would now choose Fine Gael/Labour coalition – poll >

Column: Sharing power is bad for the health of junior coalition partners >