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| Eamon Gilmore: Tánaiste stands down as Labour Party leader | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) in the Republic of Ireland, Eamon Gilmore, has announced he is standing down as leader of the Irish Labour Party. | The Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) in the Republic of Ireland, Eamon Gilmore, has announced he is standing down as leader of the Irish Labour Party. |
| Mr Gilmore said he would do so, once a successor had been appointed. Those nominations open on Tuesday evening. | |
| He will remain in his role as Tánaiste until a new leader is appointed on 4 July. | |
| The Irish Labour Party suffered disastrous results in both the local and European elections. | The Irish Labour Party suffered disastrous results in both the local and European elections. |
| Labour are the junior party in Ireland's coalition government. | Labour are the junior party in Ireland's coalition government. |
| Mr Gilmore told journalists at a press conference in Dublin on Monday afternoon that he had thought about it over the weekend and "agonised" over the decision. | Mr Gilmore told journalists at a press conference in Dublin on Monday afternoon that he had thought about it over the weekend and "agonised" over the decision. |
| "I decided last night (Sunday) that the party would be best served by having a new leader," he said. | "I decided last night (Sunday) that the party would be best served by having a new leader," he said. |
| "I intend to remain involved and active in politics. It is my intention to seek re-election in my constituency of Dún Laoghaire at the next general election." | "I intend to remain involved and active in politics. It is my intention to seek re-election in my constituency of Dún Laoghaire at the next general election." |
| He said the Labour Party in 2011, following its most successful ever general election, had taken a "political risk" by entering into a coalition government with Fine Gael. | He said the Labour Party in 2011, following its most successful ever general election, had taken a "political risk" by entering into a coalition government with Fine Gael. |
| "I asked the party to take on the responsibility of government during the worst economic crisis in the history of the state," he said. | "I asked the party to take on the responsibility of government during the worst economic crisis in the history of the state," he said. |
| "I did so because I believed then, as I do now, that as citizens and as a party, we had a duty to put the country first - to address the crisis, to get out of the bail-out, to revert the loss of employment, to get the economy to recover and to do so in as fair and just a manner as humanely possible." | "I did so because I believed then, as I do now, that as citizens and as a party, we had a duty to put the country first - to address the crisis, to get out of the bail-out, to revert the loss of employment, to get the economy to recover and to do so in as fair and just a manner as humanely possible." |
| 'Political risk' | 'Political risk' |
| Mr Gilmore, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, said he still believed that it was the "right decision". | Mr Gilmore, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, said he still believed that it was the "right decision". |
| "I am proud of the progress we have made in achieving those objectives, but it was a course that carried a high political risk and Labour has paid the price for that in the local and European elections." | "I am proud of the progress we have made in achieving those objectives, but it was a course that carried a high political risk and Labour has paid the price for that in the local and European elections." |
| He said as party leader he had to "take responsibility for what happened on Friday". | He said as party leader he had to "take responsibility for what happened on Friday". |
| Labour secured 19% of the vote in the 2011 general election - their share fell to 7% in the local and European elections. | Labour secured 19% of the vote in the 2011 general election - their share fell to 7% in the local and European elections. |
| Mr Gilmore was facing a no confidence motion from seven of his party TDs (Irish MPs) following their poor performance at the polls. | Mr Gilmore was facing a no confidence motion from seven of his party TDs (Irish MPs) following their poor performance at the polls. |
| The motion was tabled for a parliamentary party meeting - a same motion was also due to go before Labour's central council. | The motion was tabled for a parliamentary party meeting - a same motion was also due to go before Labour's central council. |
| Thanks | Thanks |
| Mr Gilmore said he had informed Labour's general secretary of his decision on Monday morning. | Mr Gilmore said he had informed Labour's general secretary of his decision on Monday morning. |
| He also met with his ministers on Monday to discuss the results. | He also met with his ministers on Monday to discuss the results. |
| Mr Gilmore said the party and the government must now "move on to a new phase and look to the future". | Mr Gilmore said the party and the government must now "move on to a new phase and look to the future". |
| Following his announcement, he thanked Labour members for their support on Twitter. | Following his announcement, he thanked Labour members for their support on Twitter. |
| Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny thanked Mr Gilmore and Labour for their "[courage] in making the collective decisions that have pulled Ireland back from the brink of economic collapse and put the country on the path towards recovery". | Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny thanked Mr Gilmore and Labour for their "[courage] in making the collective decisions that have pulled Ireland back from the brink of economic collapse and put the country on the path towards recovery". |
| He said Mr Gilmore had been pivotal in restoring Ireland's international reputation. | He said Mr Gilmore had been pivotal in restoring Ireland's international reputation. |
| Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said while it was obviously a difficult day for Mr Gilmore and his family, "this is not about personalities, it's about policies. | Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said while it was obviously a difficult day for Mr Gilmore and his family, "this is not about personalities, it's about policies. |
| 'Integrity' | 'Integrity' |
| "Quite clearly the voters have rejected the policies of this government," he said. | "Quite clearly the voters have rejected the policies of this government," he said. |
| Ivan Lewis, shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland described Mr Gilmore as a man of "great decency and integrity". | Ivan Lewis, shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland described Mr Gilmore as a man of "great decency and integrity". |
| "His resignation will not only be a blow to the Irish Labour Party, but the people of Ireland," he said. | "His resignation will not only be a blow to the Irish Labour Party, but the people of Ireland," he said. |
| "I hope he will continue to make a significant contribution to centre-left politics in Europe and across the world." | "I hope he will continue to make a significant contribution to centre-left politics in Europe and across the world." |
| SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme he would be saddened if he resigned. | SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme he would be saddened if he resigned. |
| "He has made big efforts to support progress here and he'll be missed in that role," he said. | "He has made big efforts to support progress here and he'll be missed in that role," he said. |
| Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said it would be "hugely significant" if Mr Gilmore did resign. He said they had a disastrous election. | Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said it would be "hugely significant" if Mr Gilmore did resign. He said they had a disastrous election. |