Pressure builds on Labour as austerity bites: Collapse, part two

Pressure builds on Labour as austerity bites: Collapse, part two

Author: The Irish Times April 6, 2026 Duration: 43:00

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In part two of this three-part series on Labour's harrowing experience in government from 2011 to 2016, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan follow the story of the first three years of that austerity-delivering coalition.


As punishing budget after punishing budget was delivered, Labour struggled to retain its political identity and principles while working with Fine Gael to present a united front to a world that saw Ireland as an economic basket case. Successes - exiting the EU-IMF bailout programme, securing legislation on abortion - are completely overshadowed by the harshness of austerity. For Labour and its party leader Eamon Gilmore, the political damage mounts.


Listen to part one here.


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