Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed the publication by Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald TD of the Domestic Violence Bill, which contains measures on preventing and combating domestic violence, including enhanced protections and easier access to the courts for victims of abuse. Senator Bacik commented: “I particularly welcome the inclusion of measures to repeal the exemptions which…

Tomorrow, Saturday 4th February, Labour Party spokesperson on Finance, Joan Burton will host a seminar on the State of the Nation, covering investment, jobs and training in the context of Brexit. It will take place from 10am in the Oak Room in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin. Deputy Burton will also deliver a major…

Labour spokesperson on Jobs, Alan Kelly TD has today stated that he believes the Irish Government should consider holding a referendum on the final deal negotiated between the EU and Britain following Britain’s decision to leave the EU. He said ‘no one can predict how this will pan out. This has never been done before,…

Labour spokesperson on the Arts, Joan Burton TD, has welcomed reports that the Guinness family trust would ‘entertain all offers’ regarding the sale of Luggala Estate in Wicklow. It follows an Irish Times report today that an offer currently being considered regarding the sale of the 5,000 acre estate would accommodate custodian Garech Browne living…

Today at Leader’s Questions, Labour Party spokesperson on Finance Joan Burton raised the need for stricter rules on lobbying on tax matters. Deputy Burton also called on the Tánaiste to inform the Dáil how much extra the Government expected to raise in tax from vulture funds following the €158 million tax windfall from NAMA. “The…

Labour spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly, has called on the Minister to do more to tackle the over-crowding crisis in our A&E departments, following warnings from the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine that up to 350 people could die this year if the crisis isn’t tackled. “As we know from the figures released from the…

Introduction I think we are all getting weary of speeches that begin by emphasising the gravity of the challenges we face. Yet Brexit and the upheaval facing the EU have brought about another series of conversations that sound all too familiar. A decade ago, we began talking about potentially ruinous levels of banking debt, the…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan has called on citizens to engage with the National Planning Framework to ensure a good and sustainable future for Ireland. “The National Planning Framework announced today must be radical if it is to make the difference needed to enable cities in the rest of the…