Labour leader Pat Rabbitte today insisted his party would enter government with Fine Gael after the next general election despite the latest opinion poll which shows both parties trailing the Goverment.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this afternoon, Mr Rabbitte said: "This country needs a change of government. It needs a government that will address some of the issues that have been neglected by the present government, that will end the waste of taxpayers money and use it instead for investment and improvement in the delivery of public services."
An opinion poll in a Sunday newspaper shows Fianna Fáil down three points to 39 per cent since the last poll was taken, while Fine Gael at 22 per cent and Labour at 12 per cent are both up two points.
The PDs gain one point to 5 per cent, the Greens drop one to 5 per cent, and Sinn Féin are also down one to 7 per cent. Independents and others remain unchanged at 10 per cent.
Mr Rabbitte said there is a 'world of difference' on the key issues between his own party and those of Progressive Democrats.
"The PDs is a party founded on the belief that inequality is necessary to make our society work and I believe the opposite. That's a fundamental ideological divergence," he said.