The new leader of the Labour party has said he expects the country to go back to the polls within the next 12 months.

Brendan Howlin was speaking after meeting party councillors for the first time since he was elected.

Sitting and former public representatives have been meeting in Dublin today to discuss the party’s future following the general election result.

Deputy Howlin said the new Government will not last: “We have to have a Government that is agile enough, has the capacity, the trust both of the parliament and the people to respond to crisis like that.

“We don’t have that now.

“I think we will have another general election in the next 12 months, that would be my view.

“We have to prepare for that.”