There have been rumblings of unrest within the Labour Party since the quality of its performance in the local and European elections failed to live up to expectations.
From a position where Fine Gael had been regarded as the weaker element of a potential alternative government, the election results overturned that perception and the Labour Party was cast in the role of struggling to make up the necessary numbers. In such circumstances, it is no surprise that the leadership and political strategy of Mr Pat Rabbitte has come under scrutiny.
Reservations about strategy were expressed at the weekend by Mr Brendan Howlin when he argued that Labour should not enter a pre-election pact with Fine Gael and should present itself to the electorate as a stand-alone, independent party.
Such agreements in the past, he said, had allowed Fine Gael to present itself as the dominant political force and had damaged the Labour Party. His concerns were brushed aside by a party spokesman, however, who said Mr Howlin's views were well known and it was now settled policy to forge a pre-election alliance with Fine Gael.
It comes as no surprise that the fault-lines of the present disagreement partially reflect the boundaries that once existed between the Labour Party and Democratic Left. While the merger between the two parties would appear to be seamless, old alliances and attitudes still carry weight. Residual resentment still exists in relation to the success and elevation of some "new" members.
And the failure of Mr Rabbitte to consult with members of the national executive council, in advance of announcing his decision to negotiate a pre-election pact with Fine Gael, provided his critics with a genuine grievance. This misjudgment was compounded by the decision to deny Mr Michael D. Higgins an opportunity to challenge for the Presidency.
The exchanges do not represent an immediate challenge to Mr Rabbitte's position as leader of the Labour Party. While the criticism may come from a former rival, it reflects an anxiety by members of "old" Labour to be consulted in advance of any pre-election negotiations with Fine Gael and to be involved in the formulation of that strategy.
Concern about the party's poor showing in the June elections has been sharpened by the results of the recent Irish Times/TNSmrbi opinion poll which showed a decline in party support.
Within the next few months, the Labour Party is expected to decide on the policies it will advocate as the basis for its participation in government and the timing of such negotiations. Mr Rabbitte would do himself a favour by consulting widely.