Tánaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton has defended remarks by former education minister Ruairí Quinn about Fine Gael made at the Labour think-in.

His impromptu late-night address to the party’s think-in Co Wicklow was “very passionate” and was enjoyed by everyone, she said.

Mr Quinn had said Labour had “defeated the Fine Gaelers”, the “Fianna Fáilers” and the nationalists and dragged the country into the 21st century.

“I think Ruairí was reflecting, rightly, a degree of pride in some of the social changes that the Labour Party has sponsored, and difficult social conversations about issues that are very important to people,” Ms Burton said.

She said social change might “perhaps” have come about without the Labour Party in government over the years, “but it might have taken decades longer”.

Prominent figures

She mentioned the impact of prominent figures such as former president Mary Robinson, former Labour leader Frank Cluskey and former minister Noel Browne.

Ms Burton reiterated that overturning the eighth amendment on abortion would be part of Labour’s election manifesto.

She said Labour had opposed the amendment in the early 1980s.

“The people at the time didn’t share our view in their wisdom, and now we want to have another conversation around that and to see how we can address this issue in terms of people in Ireland now affected by that issue.”

Asked whether she agreed with Mr Quinn that Labour had “defeated the Fine Gaelers”, Ms Burton said: “I certainly hope on Sunday that Dublin beats Kerry, so it’s the same kind of cry, isn’t it?”