Joan Burton: I don't see Labour being involved in next Government

Speaking after being elected without reaching the quota in Dublin West Ms Burton tonight said it would be up to the party to decide on whether she remains on as leader.

Joan Burton: The Labour Party will have to "reflect in the coming days" about what to do after the election resultshttps://t.co/sYdKOuHzrj

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However, she said she could not see a way of Labour continuing in power.

"I do not see the Labour party being involved in government," she said.

Tanaiste Joan Burton "Today has been a very difficult day for many people in the Labour Party" #GE16 pic.twitter.com/ANTe5SsRwE

— Cormac McQuinn (@CormacMcQuinn) February 27, 2016

"Today has been a very difficult day for many people in the Labour party and I think involved in Labour party politics in Ireland," she said.

"We have lost many fine colleagues who have served the people of Ireland night and day in terms of Dáil representation."

Ms Burton said "people still hurt from all of the consequence of the financial crash of eight years ago," adding that a lot of people had not felt the recovery.

"We now will have a period of reflection in the Labour Party.

"The leadership of the Labour party and my role as leader continues, we await the outcome of all the different counts and what the position of the party is," she said.

"Obviously the electorate have given a particular verdict and whatever role it is that the Labour Party takes up we will do that to our utmost best.

"But I don't at this point foresee the Labour party being involved in Government."

Ms Burton said the job now was to "rebuild and regrow" the Labour party.