Pat Rabbitte "Isn't that what you tend to do during an election?"

Pat Rabbitte concedes he lied to the public over pre-election promises to win votes for the Labour Party

[@ghostofgralton6859]

This is an incredible moment, because you can see the instant a political party died

[@18cenzo]

unbelievable!

[@blaacentral4404]

Pigs. Trough.

[@CaminoAir]

I repeatedly challenged Labour & FG election candidates about their blatant denials that (in opposition) they had repeatedly called for lower taxes & higher public spending after each budget during the 'Celtic Tiger' period. Rabbitte himself constantly denied this had happened, despite it being broadcast on TV & radio, printed in newspapers and presumably on Dail records. What did anyone expect and why did anyone vote for people with that track record of dishonesty?

[@graw81]

"When the facts change... I change my mind". John Maynard Keynes said that. Funny one that! ;-)

[@Torn9696]

this country needs to wake up. it can be fixed.

[@CaminoAir]

Since taking office as Minister in 2011, Rabbitte has been indistinguishable from an FF or FG minister and has been arrogant, which he was in the lead up to the last election. We could all post comments about everything all day. We need to take peaceful, coordinated and effective action.

[@asfsdafasfdsfa5000]

the fighting irish are long gone,along with the tearing down of the roman catholic church...

[@mike_mcgb]

The tearing-down of the oppressive Catholic Church is, in fact, the greatest feat of our fighting spirit yet.

[@willv2011]

squealer left manor farm for paddys day

[@HomercleeseSimpson]

Sorry, I should say, I do hate the current Labour leadership and hence, I guess, the party. If I heard that every one of the leaders were incinerated in a slow burning coach fire I think I'd do a jig.

[@asfsdafasfdsfa5000]

people need to plug out and get out on the streets..

[@asfsdafasfdsfa5000]

The government is considering paying the anglo irish money,we dont have a say in it,your right,they do defy belief. If we dont have a say in how things are run...Do we really live in a democracy?

[@larrydelamb]

we need to exit the eurozone while we still have an economy of any sort in ireland. this clip shows that government politicians will forever be able to blame "the european economy loosing momentum" or whatever way they wish to phrase it for them being unable to fulfill election promises which nobody believes at this stage. as a matter of fact people are now coming t the conclusion that representative democracy itself is being take away from them with our country being run by quangos and banks.

[@kargwain187]

Im disgusted every day with the likes of him and the rest of his gang of traitors.

[@asfsdafasfdsfa5000]

check out direct democracy dot ie..RTE and other news stations employed by government are doing their very best to ignore them..Its time we STOPPED voting for populist parties,and give someone new with fresh enthusiasm a chance..

[@mike_mcgb]

This has also aged like milk

[@tinamcconville7003]

its time for the people to rise up against these traitors.

[@CHARM8910]

Judas.

[@mickser101]

Pat Rabbitte is a walking talking Septic tank

[@mbranagh5176]

"When the facts change... I change my mind" John Maynard Keynes. Rabbitte's points are thoroughly reasonable and yes,for the left as well there is reasonable debate on universal child benefits. From the postings here one might conclude Labour won by a landslide; in fact,it's a junior partner and received less than 20% of the vote. It's the quality of arguements here that explains why the UKiP is expected to do a star performance in the UK elections and we know what a fine alternative the UKiP represents. Where are the parties in Ireland that WILL be able to do things very much different if elected to office?

[@ULYSSES-31]

Then why *promise* things they know they cannot guarantee?

[@XeroCate]

THOMAS CARNACKI To get elected.

[@mike_mcgb]

So, this has aged like a fine milk. Labour shied away from the hard business of building a proper critical left mass from its 2011 numbers, electing instead to give its grey generation a cushy pension. And all it cost them was their vote, their historic constituencies, their credibility, and generations of goodwill.

[@LarryFogarty]

another labour tratior

[@tinamcconville7003]

time or Rabbitte to go, some socialist

[@asfsdafasfdsfa5000]

If it wasnt for the church,there wouldnt have been a welfare system in ireland..Labour like to say they want to protect welfare,well look what they did to a lot of families in therun up to xmas time,and even went ahead to fast track this new bill,never before did they fast track other bills but welfare they got so excited about cutting it. I dont know how you can condone his actions.. He didnt even touch his own 100,000 wage!

[@mike_mcgb]

There also would be functioning healthcare and education systems. The nuns sold land and facilities to private interests, not very charitable

[@tenwash]

Just focus on the last 12 seconds. The minister is responding to the accusation (!) "you kept it really simple". He is not agreeing that he lied.

[@HomercleeseSimpson]

You hate the Labour party and socialism? That's fine, I don't agree with it but please have enough intelligence to realise that the Labour party and Socialism aren't the same thing. The current Labour leadership are about as socialist as FF and FG, i.e. not at all.

[@lemonGresham]

.. and they didn't fall too far short. And by the way we're all fuckin broke & penniless By Irish standards. But we are still wealthy enough to have a welfare system, that's not bad, and if ya know your history of the past hundred years then Labour have a lot to do with that.

[@tonydunne4740]

Rabbit is a pox

[@wuiceman]

Rabbitte is responding to the statement "you kept it very simple, protect child benefit - vote Labour." Nicely cut off at the end you clown!

[@HomercleeseSimpson]

Sorry, I should say, I do hate the current Labour leadership and hence, I guess, the party. If I heard that every one of the leaders were incinerated in a slow burning coach fire I think I'd do a jig.

[@HomercleeseSimpson]

Sorry, I should say, I do hate the current Labour leadership and hence, I guess, the party. If I heard that every one of the leaders were incinerated in a slow burning coach fire I think I'd do a jig.