Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has said it is his ambition to lead Labour in the future.

Mr Kelly, the party's deputy leader, also compared the "false promises" made by Syriza in Greece to the policies of Sinn Féin and others in Opposition.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show, Mr Kelly (39) said he would “love to” lead Labour at some stage in the future, describing it as a “unique” party in Irish society.

“It is certainly an ambition of mine, it always has been. I have been in the Labour Party all my life, my parents were in the Labour Party. We didn’t have it easy when we were young.”

The Tipperary TD said his family lost their home and possessions in a fire just before he was born, which he described as a “formative experience”.

“I was just about to enter this earth. My parents were actually at a Labour Party dinner dance for [former North Tipperary TD] John Ryan and they came home [to the fire].

“They lost absolutely everything. My parents have one photograph from their wedding left. Literally with the help of neighbours and friends, we built our house.

“It certainly shaped our family’s life and we always value the things we have and we work hard, because these things do shape your life.”

Sinn Féin criticised

Mr Kelly also insisted Labour still has a future, and criticised Sinn Féin.

"Sinn Féin are not a left-wing party. For me, they are just a populist movement in the Republic of Ireland with a northern command and a very authoritarian stand. They'll tell you anything you want to hear."

He said Labour and Fine Gael will run as two separate parties in the general election but emphasised there will be cooperation between the two as part of a pitch to re-elect the current Government.

“We are two separate, distinct parties. There will certainly be cooperation. We will run as two distinct parties but there will be cooperation to the level of saying: ‘This is the government to bring back’.”