In a frank assessment of Labour's disappointing general election performance, Rabbitte highlighted the funding available to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

"Traditionally Labour has struggled to overcome relative scarcity of financial resources through organisational effort on the ground. In modern conditions, it is proving ever more difficult to match the financial firepower of the two conservative parties, " he said.

In identifying reasons for not winning additional Dail seats, Rabbitte stressed the outcome of the leaders' debate, a Late Late Show election discussion and Fianna Fail's emphasis on Enda Kenny's experience. He accepted that Fine Gael benefited from the Mullingar Accord but argued that there is no evidence an independent electoral strategy would have produced success for Labour.