Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has written to members and supporters asking for donations of €10 per month to help fund the next general election campaign.
Following the publication of today's Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll showing Labour at an historic high of 32 per cent, Mr Gilmore emailed supporters to say the result was "one that we can all take pleasure in".
“It's truly gratifying to see the hard work of my Oireachtas colleagues, our councillors and most importantly, that of our members around the country, rewarded by the results published today,” he wrote.
“But it's only a poll, a great poll maybe, but a poll none the less and that's why I'm asking for your help to turn this into real votes at election time.”
Mr Gilmore said the party had started “a movement for real change in Irish politics” and that it now had the opportunity to “truly challenge Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for political leadership in the country”.
“Together we can reshape the Irish political map.”
Mr Gilmore said Labour’s message was clearly resonating with voters, but it was fighting parties with far more resources and funds than it enjoyed.
“I know we are living in troubled times but I'm asking every member and supporter who can afford it to sign up to donate €10 a month to our election fund.”
Mr Gilmore said the money would only be used to fight the general election and to win seats for Labour in the upcoming campaign.
Labour did not have “the big business backers” of Fine Gael or Fianna Fail but it could “take them on” with the help of supporters.