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Ireland Labour Party: Latest polls, election results and positions

Election Trend
3.0 %
-1.7 since the last election
Last Election
4.7 %
Election 2024 · 11 Seats
3-Month Trend
-0.5
Three months ago: 3.5 %
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Páirti Lucht Oibre at a glance

Labour Party S&D
Flag of Ireland Ireland Social Democratic Europhile Founded 1912

The Labour Party is a social democratic party in Ireland. As one of the country's oldest political forces, it champions the interests of working people and advocates for a robust welfare state and social liberalisation, having historically positioned itself between the two dominant centre-right parties.

Values and Ideology
Labour's foundations are rooted in the organised labour movement and trade union tradition. Their worldview is shaped by the conviction that the state must play an active role in wealth redistribution and ensuring equality of opportunity. In contrast to the more conservative-nationalist legacy of Irish politics, Labour champions a secular, pluralistic state and a humanistic approach based on solidarity and collective responsibility. The party views social justice not as charity, but as a fundamental civil right.

Political Priorities
The Labour Party's agenda focuses on expanding public services, particularly in housing and healthcare. Labour advocates for fair wages, robust workers' rights, and progressive tax policies to bridge the growing gap between rich and poor. Their target demographic includes traditional wage earners, trade union members, and the urban liberal milieu. A significant emphasis is placed on climate action, which the party envisions as a 'Just Transition' – a socially equitable ecological transformation – to ensure that the costs of this shift do not disproportionately burden the most vulnerable.

Role in the Political System
Within the Irish party system, Labour serves as a progressive corrective force. In coalitions, it often acts as a junior partner, which creates an inherent tension: while enabling the implementation of social reforms, the necessary compromises on fiscal matters frequently lead to friction with its own grassroots support. Labour is firmly committed to liberal democracy and EU membership, yet finds itself in constant competition with left-populist movements for narrative control over social issues and the representation of the working class.
Political Alignment
Conservative
Social
Lab
Market
Progressive
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Labour Party: Key issues and ideological profile

Labour Party Other Parties
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Main topics of Labour Party:: Economy (Important Topic), Society (Important Topic), Social Affairs (Important Topic), Environment (Important Topic), Migration (Important Topic)

Labour Party: What does the party stand for? Positions compared

Position 2024 Position 2019

Economy & State

Should income and wealth be redistributed? Advocates moderate redistribution in favor of social justice. Stance
How should the state manage its available budget? Leans slightly more towards investment than saving. Stance
Should the local economy be protected? Represents a balanced position between trade and protection. Stance

Society & Values

What is more important: freedom or security? Prioritizes civil liberties but accepts certain security measures. Stance
Should the equality of women be promoted? Wants active state promotion of equality. Stance
Should LGBTQ+ equality be advanced? Largely supports equality. Stance
Should same-sex marriage be allowed? Fully supports same-sex marriage. Stance
What role should religions play in politics? Views religion as a personal but socially relevant matter. Stance
Should policy focus on urban or rural areas? Favors urban development promotion. Stance

Environment & Globalization

What is more important: environmental protection or economy? Weights environmental protection slightly stronger than economic growth. Stance
What is more important: climate protection or economy? Weights climate protection slightly stronger than economic growth. Stance

Migration & Integration

How should immigration policy be regulated? Advocates open immigration with targeted management. Stance
How should immigrant integration be shaped? Supports integration while preserving cultural diversity. Stance
Should ethnic minorities be granted more rights? Considers equal rights sufficient. Stance
What role should nation-states play? Advocates international cooperation beyond national interests. Stance

Democracy & Institutions

How should power be distributed? Holds a neutral stance on power distribution. Stance
How independent should the judiciary be? Advocates a completely independent judiciary without political influence. Stance
How should the state be organized: centralized or federal? Supports decentralization with clear regional competencies. Stance
Positions of Labour Party: Should income and wealth be redistributed? Advocates moderate redistribution in favor of social justice. How should the state manage its available budget? Leans slightly more towards investment than saving. Should the local economy be protected? Represents a balanced position between trade and protection. What is more important: freedom or security? Prioritizes civil liberties but accepts certain security measures. Should the equality of women be promoted? Wants active state promotion of equality. Should LGBTQ+ equality be advanced? Largely supports equality. Should same-sex marriage be allowed? Fully supports same-sex marriage. What role should religions play in politics? Views religion as a personal but socially relevant matter. Should policy focus on urban or rural areas? Favors urban development promotion. What is more important: environmental protection or economy? Weights environmental protection slightly stronger than economic growth. What is more important: climate protection or economy? Weights climate protection slightly stronger than economic growth. How should immigration policy be regulated? Advocates open immigration with targeted management. How should immigrant integration be shaped? Supports integration while preserving cultural diversity. Should ethnic minorities be granted more rights? Considers equal rights sufficient. What role should nation-states play? Advocates international cooperation beyond national interests. How should power be distributed? Holds a neutral stance on power distribution. How independent should the judiciary be? Advocates a completely independent judiciary without political influence. How should the state be organized: centralized or federal? Supports decentralization with clear regional competencies.
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Labour Party in Europe: where the party sits in the political landscape

Political Alignment
Conservative
Social
Market
Progressive
Labour Party

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Labour Party in the European Parliament: MEPs and political group

Political group MEPs
S&DProgressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats1

Labour Party: Election results in Ireland since 1945

2024 29 November 2024 Vote share 4.7 % +1.3 Seats 11 +10 2024 7 June 2024 Vote share 3.4 % -1.0 Seats 1 -5 2020 8 February 2020 Vote share 4.4 % +1.3 Seats 6 +6 2019 24 May 2019 Worst result Vote share 3.1 % -3.5 Seats 0 -7 2016 26 February 2016 Vote share 6.6 % +1.3 Seats 7 +7 2014 23 May 2014 Vote share 5.3 % -14.2 Seats 0 -37 2011 25 February 2011 Best result Vote share 19.5 % +5.6 Seats 37 +34 2009 5 June 2009 Vote share 13.9 % +3.8 Seats 3 -17 2007 24 May 2007 Vote share 10.1 % -0.5 Seats 20 +19 2004 13 June 2004 Vote share 10.6 % -0.2 Seats 1 -20 2002 17 May 2002 Vote share 10.8 % +2.1 Seats 21 +20 1999 13 June 1999 Vote share 8.7 % -1.7 Seats 1 -16 1997 6 June 1997 Vote share 10.4 % -0.6 Seats 17 +16 1994 12 June 1994 Vote share 11.0 % -8.3 Seats 1 -32 1992 25 November 1992 Vote share 19.3 % +9.8 Seats 33 +32 1989 18 June 1989 Vote share 9.5 % ±0.0 Seats 1 -14 1989 15 June 1989 Vote share 9.5 % +3.0 Seats 15 +3 1987 17 February 1987 Vote share 6.5 % -1.9 Seats 12 +12 1984 17 June 1984 Vote share 8.4 % -1.0 Seats 0 -16 1982 24 November 1982 Vote share 9.4 % +0.3 Seats 16 +1 1982 18 February 1982 Vote share 9.1 % -0.8 Seats 15 ±0 1981 11 June 1981 Vote share 9.9 % -4.6 Seats 15 +11 1979 10 June 1979 Vote share 14.5 % +2.9 Seats 4 -13 1977 16 June 1977 Vote share 11.6 % -2.1 Seats 17 -2 1973 28 February 1973 Vote share 13.7 % -3.3 Seats 19 +1 1969 18 June 1969 Vote share 17.0 % +1.6 Seats 18 -4 1965 7 April 1965 Vote share 15.4 % +3.7 Seats 22 +6 1961 4 October 1961 Vote share 11.7 % +2.6 Seats 16 +4 1957 5 March 1957 Vote share 9.1 % -3.0 Seats 12 -7 1954 18 May 1954 Vote share 12.1 % +0.7 Seats 19 +3 1951 30 May 1951 Vote share 11.4 % +2.7 Seats 16 +2 1948 4 February 1948 Vote share 8.7 % Seats 14
Labour Party: Election results in Ireland since 1945 1948: 8.7 %, 1951: 11.4 %, 1954: 12.1 %, 1957: 9.1 %, 1961: 11.7 %, 1965: 15.4 %, 1969: 17.0 %, 1973: 13.7 %, 1977: 11.6 %, 1979: 14.5 %, 1981: 9.9 %, 1982: 9.1 %, 1982: 9.4 %, 1984: 8.4 %, 1987: 6.5 %, 1989: 9.5 %, 1989: 9.5 %, 1992: 19.3 %, 1994: 11.0 %, 1997: 10.4 %, 1999: 8.7 %, 2002: 10.8 %, 2004: 10.6 %, 2007: 10.1 %, 2009: 13.9 %, 2011: 19.5 %, 2014: 5.3 %, 2016: 6.6 %, 2019: 3.1 %, 2020: 4.4 %, 2024: 3.4 %, 2024: 4.7 %

All elections since 1945 in which Labour Party participated. Click a row to see election details.

All Elections

Labour Party: Sister parties in other countries

This party is a national section of Party of European Socialists.

Country Election Trend
Flag of Malta MaltaPL51.8 % Flag of Sweden SwedenSocialdemokraterna28.3 % Flag of Portugal PortugalPartido Socialista28.1 % Flag of Spain SpainPSOE26.4 % Flag of United Kingdom United KingdomLabour25.3 % Flag of Finland FinlandSDP23.1 % Flag of Norway NorwayArbeiderpartiet22.6 % Flag of Croatia CroatiaSDP22.6 % Flag of Italy ItalyPartito Democratico21.4 % Flag of Luxembourg LuxembourgLSAP20.9 % Flag of Denmark DenmarkSocialdemokraterne20.7 % Flag of Romania RomaniaPSD19.1 % Flag of Estonia EstoniaSDE15.7 % Flag of Lithuania LithuaniaLSDP15.0 % Flag of Austria AustriaSPÖ14.7 % Flag of Germany GermanySPD12.4 % Flag of Greece GreecePASOK12.3 % Flag of Cyprus CyprusDIKO10.0 % Flag of Belgium BelgiumPS9.3 % Flag of Belgium BelgiumVooruit9.3 % Flag of Slovenia SloveniaSD8.8 % Flag of Poland PolandLewica7.7 % Flag of Bulgaria BulgariaBSP3.5 % Flag of Cyprus CyprusEDEK3.3 % Flag of Latvia LatviaSaskaņa1.9 % Flag of Hungary HungaryDemokratikus Koalíció1.4 % Flag of Hungary HungaryMSZP Flag of France FranceParti socialiste Flag of Italy ItalyPartito Socialista Italiano Flag of Netherlands NetherlandsPvdA Flag of Czechia CzechiaSOCDEM Flag of United Kingdom United KingdomSocial Democratic and Labour Party

Labour Party in government: the record since 1945

1948 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Today
Led government Involved in government Not in government
Time in government
27 years • 1 month • 2 weeks • 3 days
Share since 1948
32 %
Cabinets led
0

-

Coalition involvements
8

27 years • 1 month • 2 weeks • 3 days

Kenny I 9 March 2011 – 6 May 2016 · 5 years 1 month
113 of 166 seats
Bruton 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997 · 2 years 6 months
82 of 166 seats
Reynolds II 12 January 1993 – 15 December 1994 · 1 year 11 months
101 of 166 seats
Fitzgerald II 14 December 1982 – 10 March 1987 · 4 years 2 months
86 of 166 seats
Fitzgerald I 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 · 8 months 7 days
80 of 166 seats
Cosgrave L 14 March 1973 – 5 July 1977 · 4 years 3 months
73 of 144 seats
Costello II 2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957 · 2 years 9 months
74 of 147 seats
Costello I 18 February 1948 – 13 June 1951 · 3 years 3 months
67 of 147 seats
All Elections

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