Labour launch local and European election campaign

The Labour Party has launched its election campaign ahead of the local, European Parliament and Limerick mayoral elections.

The party is putting 108 candidates forward in the local elections - looking to make gains on the 54 councillors it currently has.

Conor Sheehan, who is a Labour party councillor in Co Limerick, hopes to be the city's first directly elected mayor.

There are three Labour candidates running for the European Parliament elections: Aodhán Ó Ríordáin in Dublin, Fergal Landy in Midlands North West while Niamh Hourigan is running in the South constituency.

At the party launch at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin city centre, party leader Ivana Bacik said she was "delighted" and "proud" to put forward what she described as "great candidates".

Ms Bacik said the party is putting forward a "strong Labour vision" on issues that she says are affecting communities including housing, climate, care and workers' rights.

She said people across the country "are crying out for really positive change".