I am delighted to have seconded Senator Ivana Bacik’s Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 which passed through Second Stage in the Seanad tonight. This Bill marks a very important step on a road which will enhance the security of income and opportunity for a number of self-employed professionals. To date the rigorous tests applied under the…

Senator Ivana Bacik’s Competition (Amendment) Bill passed Second Stage in the Seanad today after Minister Richard Bruton, on behalf of the Government, did not oppose it. Senator Bacik proposed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 on behalf of the Labour Party Senators, as a Private Members’ Bill. Senator Aideen Hayden of Labour seconded the Bill. Welcoming…

Senator Mairia Cahill has today welcomed the publication of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021 by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD. “I welcome the publication today of a national strategy to deal with the very serious issues of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence over the next…

Labour Party TD Eric Byrne has criticised Fianna Fail’s crime policy announced earlier today. Deputy Byrne commented: “According to their new crime policy, Fianna Fail want to introduce anti-crime measures at a cost of €104 million. Where do they expect to fund these proposals? From within the Garda force! “It is financially unsound to propose…

In the Seanad today, Senator Ivana Bacik will introduce the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 on behalf of the Labour Party Senators, as a Private Members’ Bill. Senator Aideen Hayden of Labour will second the Bill. Speaking to propose the Bill today, Senator Bacik will say: “Under competition law, currently every self-employed person is considered to…

Minister for Energy Alex White today (Wednesday) said there must be an early review of Government capital spending plans to allow increased state investment in energy efficiency programmes to help Ireland meet its commitments on global warming and reduced carbon emissions. Speaking at the Dublin launch of the 2016 Better Energy Communities grant scheme, which…

Speaking on Motion of Confidence-  Check against delivery A Cheann Comhairle, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to support the motion that the House has confidence in me as Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection. I was appointed Minister in 2011. As one of the Labour team which negotiated the Programme for Government with Fine…

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin TD, has announced the establishment of an Interdepartmental Group, led by his Department, to examine the issues arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors, in the context of the increase in the State Pension age from 65 to…