The Labour MEP Nessa Childers says the Labour Party could potentially break-up with a splinter group forming another party.

Ms. Childers says the pressure to meet the Irish debt repayments is causing Labour to sign-up to deals that go against core Labour policies.

She says there is a risk of people breaking away from the party of those who feel they are more representing of Labour.

This is very evident, she claims, of centre-left parties when they are in government when real tensions build within the party.

The Leinster MEP admits she does not know who the people are but that she can see “all kinds of things happening like that”.

She wants the Labour Party to re-negotiate the Programme for Government and then go back to its members for approval.

Speaking in Strasbourg she said the mandate for the party is stretched to breaking point.

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