Ivana Bacik: I have received threats from the far-right

By Cillian Sherlock and David Young, PA

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said she and other party members have received threats and intimidation from the far-right.

Speaking to reporters at the Labour parliamentary party think-in in Maynooth, Ms Bacik said there are “worrying signs of far-right organising” in Ireland, and that her party is proud to “face down voices of hate and bigotry”.

She added: “The key thing is to ensure that far-right groups don’t get a foothold in our communities and the best way to fight them – and I’ve been doing it on the ground in my own area – is to speak with people to answer people’s concerns, to provide information, to bring people together.”

She was responding to a question on whether she believes fears over racism and xenophobia will be a factor in upcoming local and European elections.

“We’re trying to fight any sort of rise of racism and bigotry at any local and national level in any way we can, she said.

“But again, it is an issue at European level, and speaking with colleagues who are leaders of PES [Party of European Socialists] parties across Europe, they’re really worried about the gains the far-right have been making in other countries.

“We’ve seen it everywhere. We see it in Italy, we’ve seen it in Germany, and most recently we’re seeing it in Spain, we’re seeing it in Finland.

“The real worry is that there will be far-right representation, not only in the European Parliament at greater levels, but even among commissioners.

“That could really change the way in which European politics works, and we think it’s vitally important that we counter that through having a strong left social democratic and socialist voice at the European table for Ireland.”