Up to 100 grassroots Labour members meeting in Dublin today, have voiced their lack of confidence in their party's leadership.

Today's meeting was called following Labour MEP Nessa Childers resignation from the Parliamentary Party yesterday, the poor Meath East by-election result and the collapse in Labour support in the polls.

In a statement yesterday, East Ireland MEP Nassa Childers said she took the decision to leave the Parliamentary Party in order to join fellow Labour members in opposition to campaign for the party's policies.

Former Junior Health Minister Róisín Shortall, Colm Keaveney, Tommy Broughan and Patrick Nulty have all left Labour's Parliamentary party, while Willie Penrose has reapplied for membership after leaving in 2011.

Nessa Childers says she has been dismayed by recent statements by Labour Party Ministers and can no longer lend her support to a government that she feels is hurting people with "harmful policies".

Pressure is now mounting on Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, whose reported to be making contact with the party's TDs and Senators following Ms. Childer's exit.

Paul Dillion, spokesperson for the campaign for Labour policies, says ordinary members made it clear at today's meeting in Dublin that they are not satisfied with how the party is being run.