Another Labour Party councillor has issued a statement calling for a leadership contest within the party.

Councillor Martina Genockey, from the Dublin South-West constituency, has said she disagrees with a statement issued by 16 councillors in support of Brendan Howlin last week.

The councillors said now is not the right time for a leadership election.

Ms Genockey believes a leadership election would "give the party the chance to listen to members all over the country about how to get the party back to its best."

Tonight's statement echoes calls made by Laois councillor Noel Tuohy; Dublin councillors Pamela Kearns and Mick Duff; and Kerry councillor Terry O'Brien in the last fortnight seeking a change of leadership following the party getting 3% in a recent Sunday Times opinion poll.

Ms Genockey claimed a leadership contest would "give a renewed sense of urgency to the rebuild of the party."

In her statement, she said: "When I ran for a position on the party's Executive Board I committed to seeking to influence how the party listens to members, volunteers and supporters when making decisions and running campaigns, and to try to influence how the party portrays itself in the media and in other public communications.

"I made these commitments as I and other members - and I think Labour voters in general - felt that a lacking in these areas had led to decreased support for the party in elections and polls.

"I agree with a lot of the statement released by the 16 councillors last week - we have excellent reps working extremely hard for their constituents and the party, and also in relation to the issues on which they say we should focus," she added.

"However, I disagree that now is not the right time for a leadership election. I do not feel that such a contest would hinder the work of the party on these, and other important issues, but in fact give the party the chance to listen to members all over the country about how to get the party back to its best."

She added: "Whenever I give my reasons for being involved in politics and a member of the Labour party, I have always outlined how I feel the party must have policies and bring forward legislation which show how we plan to intervene to eradicate poverty and disadvantage everywhere it exists and implement long term strategies that prevent it from occurring in the future.

"In my opinion, the best way to achieve this is through a strong, inclusive Labour party that is driven by its members and their communities who understand these challenges at first hand."

She claimed that many people in the party feel that Labour is not communicating its vision.

"There has been over two years since the last general election and over four since the last leadership contest in the party. In that time the party has continued to lose support both in elections and in the polls," she said.

"To that end I think that a leadership contest would give those involved a chance to lay out their vision for the Labour Party and give a renewed sense of urgency to the rebuild of the party."