Alan Kelly seemed to think the recovery is the Govt's, not the peoples', at their campaign launch

The Labour leader made the remark at the launch of the junior coalition party's election campaign in Dublin today.

Asked if the Tipperary TD if she is her colleague's boss, Ms Burton said: "Absolutely. He's [Mr Kelly] an incredibly obedient employee."

After the laughter died down, she added: "colleague, colleague."

Asked the same question moments earlier Mr Kelly said the Tánaiste is "definitely" the one in charge.

"Joan is definitely the boss, you can trust me," he said.

The launch of Labour's election campaign was centred on the party's triple desire to focus on health and housing reform if re-elected, and to attack the opposition over its "sterile" and "dull" view of Ireland's future.

Labour's leader and deputy leader repeatedly touched on the topics during the press briefing, with Ms Burton in particular attempting to frame the election as "a contest between hope and optimism, and Ireland as a very dark, dull, desperate place".

However, despite the bid, the launch risked being over-shadowed by Mr Kelly's claims the recovery is the Government's and not the peoples' - a position he insisted on before quickly correcting.

"It's very interesting as the campaign kicks off to listen to what the other parties are saying.

"They use some phrase in front of it but they're all talking about a recovery. Now, they're talking about protecting the recovery or keeping the recovery, but we helped create the recovery.

"It has to be pointed out at all times, it is our recovery that they're talking about," he said.

Asked if it is not in fact the people's recovery, he said: "Well, it's the people's recovery but it's this Government who created that recovery."