Speaking at a seminar to celebrate the life and work of former Labour leader and Tanaiste Brendan Corish, Rabbitte claimed Fianna Fail's "supposed Pauline conversion on the road to Inchydoney" was simply a belated realisation that this shift to the right brings with it a political cost. "The supposed shift to the left, which is nothing more than a slickly packaged OneNation Toryism, has convinced no one, " he said.

Rabbitte said these circumstances offered "a great opportunity for Labour to make a substantial electoral breakthrough". Although he stated that a Labour-led government was "a realisable ambition", he acknowledged that this may require more than one election to achieve. . .

but it can be done".

The electorate, Rabbitte warned, would not reward Labour in government for timidity and only a radical approach would resolve problems such as transport, crime and the health service. "It has ever been thus. As the life and career of Brendan Corish so amply demonstrates, throughout its history our party has not lacked courage. . .

We have contributed much to the making of modern Ireland and modern Ireland is, I believe, ready to once more embrace Labour's politics, " he said.