Former Labour Party leader Mr Dick Spring is set to lead a major party effort to recruit high-calibre candidates to fight the next general elections, it has emerged. Mark Hennessy and Liam Horan report.
Marking a return to political activity, Mr Spring has been guaranteed complete independence to "find the best possible Labour candidates" by the party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
The former Tánaiste, who withdrew from active public life in 1997 when he stepped down from the party leadership, has since developed a successful business career.
The new committee, which will include senior party activists, appears to be modelled on a similar body in Fianna Fáil, once headed by the former minister for finance and European commissioner, Mr Ray MacSharry.
Meanwhile, Labour will today trumpet its best-ever local election result during a one-day meeting of the party's councillors in the Mansion House, which will discuss policy for the next five years.
On Monday, Mr Rabbitte and the leader of Fine Gael, Mr Enda Kenny, will launch a policy pact between the parties in Westmeath, where the two are in control of the local authority.
The agreement follows on foot of one already reached in Dublin between Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens, and in a number of other areas following Fianna Fáil losses in June.
Fine Gael and Labour jointly control Westmeath County Council, and act almost as one party in that they hold regular private meetings to discuss their views on issues due to come before the council.
"This is a pilot scheme in Westmeath for the whole country. It is the first time the two party leaders have come together for something like this," said Fine Gael councillor Mr Nicky McFadden.
The Labour Party Westmeath TD, Mr Willie Penrose, said both parties have agreed a 33-page document, Modernising and Delivering Change, to improve Westmeath local services.
"It is a reaction to what we all heard on the doorsteps during the local elections," said Mr McFadden, who is expected to be a candidate in the general election.