Ciara Conway to Stand for Deputy Leader of Labour Party but is not interested in a Cabinet Position.

Ciara Conway has declared her intention to run for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.

The Dungarvan based TD however says that should she be elected as Deputy Leader that she would decline any offer of a Cabinet or Junior Minister Position if chosen by her fellow labour party members.

Ciara Conway was elected to the Dáil in the 2011 General Election after long serving Labour TD for Waterford Brian O’Shea decided to retire from politics.

She was part of the so-called ‘gang of eight’ (TD’s Derek Nolan, Ged Nash, Ciara Conway, Aodhan O Ríordáin, Arthur Spring, Michael McNamara and Dominic Hannigan as well as Senator John Gilroy) who tabled a motion of no confidence in Eamon Gilmore hours before he announced his intention to resign as party leader.

On Tuesday morning last on Morning Ireland she declared an interest in running for the position of Deputy Leader, but as the week advanced she seemed to distance herself from running for the position.

Outlining her intention to stand for Deputy Leader of the Party, she said that it was not her intention to accept any ministerial position if elected, but that she would expect to attend all meetings of the Labour Ministers. She added that she did not want to be “compromised by the vested interest of Cabinet or Ministerial position.

In declaring her intention to run for the Deputy Leader Position, she declared that “This government has done some powerful things to restore Ireland’s integrity in the world. We have achieved much, and there is every reason to believe that the future of the Irish economy is bright”.

She added “But a high price has been paid – in many instances by those who cannot afford to pay it. And we have made mistakes. We should have acted much more quickly than we did to recognise the need for a new approach to medical cards. We should have ensured that serving and former Gardai raising genuine concerns about issues of malpractice were immediately, rather than belatedly, respected.

We need at all times to be certain that the tough decisions necessary for recovery are tempered by decency and humanity. Even in hard times we must strive to reduce inequality in our society, rather than allow it to increase”.

Those with an interest in standing for the Leader or Deputy Leader positions of the labour party have until noon on Tuesday (June 3) to declare their intentions.

Already Deputies Joan Burton and Alex White have already declared that they are to stand for the leader’s position.

Cork East TD Sean Sherlock, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation and Department of Education & Skills with responsibility for Research & Innovation, Cork South West TD – Michael McCarthy, and Alan Kelly A former MEP and Current TD for Tipperary North who is Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport with responsibility for Public & Commuter Transport along with Ciara Conway have all stated their intention to run for the Deputy Leaders position.

Deputy Conway has already backed Alex White in the leadership battle. Dublin North TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is believed to be supporting Ciara Conway in her bid to become deputy leader.

Arthur Spring, a nephew of former Labour Party Leader and Tánaiste is expected to declare his intentions about the leadership of the Labour Party.