'Bring it on, we’re ready to go': Labour hoping to make gains in Cork in general election'

The Labour Party has said it is “ready to go” whenever the Government chooses to call the next general election.

Despite recent assurances from Government leaders that they intend to go to full term of office, there is widespread speculation that the Government will go to the country once a series of bills are passed through the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.

“Bring it on, we’re ready to go” was the response from Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik and the party’s general election candidates for Cork when asked when they would like to see the general election held.

Speaking to the media in Cork yesterday afternoon, Ms Bacik said she would like to see a general election held “as soon as possible” and said the Labour Party is “ready”.

Speaking about what the Labour Party’s objectives are coming into a general election, Ms Bacik said: 

“We’re looking to make gains for Labour in Cork in the general election, just as we made gains for Labour in Cork in the local elections this summer.”

Speaking about the general election candidates that are selected by the party to run in Cork, Ms Bacik said she is delighted to see Cork City South West councillor Laura Harmon running for Cork South Central; Cork East councillor Eoghan Kenny and Cork City North East councillor John Maher running for Cork North Central; and Evie Nevin running for Cork South West.

She said the party’s number one priority is to maximise its representation in the Dáil and said that the party hopes to bring several new TDs from across Cork city and county to the Dáil.

“After the general election, my first act as leader of the Labour Party would be to go to other like-minded party leaders in the Green Party and other left-of-centre parties and groupings to seek to form a common platform for negotiation on any programme for government,” she said.

“We’re serious about delivering change. We want to be in government to deliver our commitments and our policies, but we have serious ideological and practical differences with the three biggest parties.”