Nessa Childers has resigned from the Labour Parliamentary Party.

In a statement the MEP for Leinster says she has taken the decision in order to join fellow Labour members in opposition to campaign for the policies of the party.

Former Junior Health Minister Róisín Shortall, Colm Keaveney, Tommy Broughan and Patrick Nulty have all left Labour. 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".

She says senior members of Labour have led the party to an impasse and its leadership appears to be more comfortable with policies that protect the more privileged in Irish society.

"Lack of fairness across government policy"

"It is predicted that Ireland will have to experience tight budgets for the foreseeable future, long after we exit the bail-out programme. My question is will this Government continue with business as usual and ignore the lack of fairness across government policy" she said.

"My dissatisfaction with the party in government has been known for some time; however recent statements from the Labour Ministers have dismayed me. They continue to insist that because of the dire economic situation there is no alternative to current government policies".

"The government is implementing harmful conservative policies. Senior Labour people appear to refuse to discuss or acknowledge recent research that shows that the greatest impact of financial distress has been seen in the lower income households in Ireland, and that the austerity agenda is not improving the real economy lived and experienced by ordinary people" she added.

She believes that the strategy of the party leadership "of attacking people who are loyal to the party's stated policies" signals she says that they are completely cut off from the concerns of the party members and Labour party ideals and values.

"Senior members of the party have led the PLP to an impasse. How long will TDs and Senators continue along this path, before they reach the point of no return" she concluded.

She spoke to Lunchtime here on Newstalk about her decision.