New Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has vowed to construct a "new politics" for a new Ireland and to reconnect with members throughout the country.
Newly appointed Labour leader Eamon Gilmore
But the Dún Laoghaire TD, who was elected unopposed to succeed Pat Rabbitte, said the party's core values will not change.
Mr Gilmore was the only candidate who had submitted nomination papers for the position by today's deadline and was declared elected by the party's general secretary, Mike Allen, shortly after noon. He becomes the 10th leader of Labour.
Mr Rabbitte stepped down last month, saying the start of a new Dáil was the appropriate time for the party to choose a new leader.
Speaking at Labour Party headquarters in Dublin shortly before his election, Mr Gilmore, who is originally from Caltra, Co Galway, said he intended to ensure the Labour Party provided a "strong opposition" to the Government.
"This is going to be a solution-orientated Labour Party," he said, adding that he would name his new frontbench spokespersons within the coming weeks.
He intended to build up an active, campaigning organisation on the ground, he told party members and supporters at the Dublin headquarters.
He said he intended to move "very quickly" to identify potential candidates for the next local elections.
"The measure of politics is votes and seats," Mr Gilmore said. He repeated his wish that Labour will win 30 seats in the Dáil in the next general election.
"To help change Ireland for the better, Labour itself has to change," he said in a speech. "That is why I have offered to lead Labour on a project of renewal, not just of the party itself, but of the country and of its politics and of our society."
Mr Gilmore said Labour had to change the way it communicates, applying the most modern methods to get its message across.
"We have to be more positive, telling people what we are for and not just what we oppose. And we have to bond better with our voters and our potential voters to construct a new politics for and of the new Ireland," he said.
Mr Gilmore said that he had "never been as energised or motivated" by a challenge such as the one he is now undertaking.
He said Labour's core values would not change but conceded the party had difficulties getting its message across to people who were affected by the very issues in society it was concerned about.
He also said he believed some potential members of the Labour Party felt they were excluded from a "closed circle", and he wanted to develop a culture where new people would be made to feel welcome.
Mr Gilmore said he would not compare himself to previous leaders as that would not be fair to him, nor fair to them. He said the Labour Party would not be forming alliances with any other party but denied this was a criticism of Mr Rabbitte's decision to enter a pre-election pact with Fine Gael.
Dublin West TD Joan Burton and Limerick East TD Jan O'Sullivan were the only two candidates who had put themselves forward for the deputy leader's job by the close of nominations today.
Mr Gilmore said he intended to attend the hustings meetings throughout the country during that contest.
An estimated 4,000 Labour Party members who have been fully paid up for the past two years will be eligible to vote in the deputy leadership contest. Ballot papers will be posted next week, and the deadline for the vote is October 4th.
Previous Labour Party leaders:
- Tom Johnson
1922-1927
T.J. O'Connell
1927-1932
William Norton
1932-1960
Brendan Corish
1960-1977
Frank Cluskey
1977-1981
Michael O'Leary
1981-1982
Dick Spring
1982-1997
Ruairí Quinn
1997-2002
- Pat Rabbitte 2002-2007