Labour Party leader and Wexford TD, Brendan Howlin, has called on the Government to provide clarity on whether or not the Christmas Bonus will be paid this year. The payment was partially restored over the last two years, with a 75% Christmas Bonus paid to all social welfare recipients last year. However in his response…

Today Deputy Willie Penrose will host a briefing on his Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2016 in the AV Room from 12-2pm, a media opportunity will take place at 11.30am at the Leinster House Gates on Kildare Street with noted Irish musicians Phil Coulter, Johnny Duhan, Michael English, Tony Allen, Sibéal Ní Chasaide and Ruaile Buaile. There’s…

Labour TD and spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Alan Kelly, has slammed media reports of government plans for a so-called ‘emigrants tax’ as preposterous. According to newspaper reports today, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is considering offering a 30 per cent tax rate to highly-skilled Irish workers currently living…

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission in their Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety. “In recent years the growing recognition of online abuse has highlighted the legislative gap in this area. Reports from Women’s Aid here in Ireland and by international experts point to an increased problem…

Labour Youth and Labour Equality are raising concerns today given reports in the media suggesting the current government are discussing a tax break to Irish emigrants earning over 75,000 per annum. This measure comes as part of a new incentive to seek the return of, what is being reported as, “highly skilled emigrants”. 
Responding to…

Labour TD for Longford Westmeath, Willie Penrose, will  host a gathering of some of Ireland’s best known musicians to discuss his proposed legislation to guarantee more airtime for music of Irish origin on the country’s airwaves. Under the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2016, a quota of at least 40 per cent of the airtime allotted to…

Limerick City Labour T.D. and Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan has called upon the Minister for Finance and constituency colleague Michael Noonan T.D. to review and amend the current legislation governing the ‘Living Cities Initiative’. The scheme was first introduced as part of the 2013 budget with a specific remit of incentivising…

Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly has welcomed his colleague Willie Penrose’s proposed legislation to guarantee more airtime for music of Irish origin on the country’s airwaves. Under the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2016, a quota of at least 40 per cent of the airtime allotted to music on Irish radio stations would contain a distinctive…