Responding to ESRI’s research warning of impending older person income and housing crisis as more and more people are locked out of home ownership, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said emergency interventions are needed to rebalance the housing market. Demanding that the Minister consider a Rent to Buy scheme and scale up its cost rental ambitions,…

Delivering the opening address this morning at an AHCPS (Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants) seminar on women and leadership post-pandemic, Ivana Bacik TD addressed the topic of gender quotas as a way of improving women’s representation in Irish politics and across public and private sectors. Outlining the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on…

Today, Tuesday, 5th July, Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD hosted a briefing for TDs and Senators with the Ukraine Civil Society Forum (UCSF). During the briefing, the UCSF, which comprises 65 civil society organisations involved in the emergency response to the war in Ukraine, called for a National Refugee Response Lead to coordinate efforts to house…

Labour transport spokesperson Duncan Smith said the costs and delays associated with Metrolink are inexplicable. Welcoming the lodgement of planning permission in September for the service, Deputy Smith said the constant can kicking points to a reluctance from this government to deal with this vital piece of infrastructure. Deputy Smith said: “This government has been…

Labour leader and environment spokesperson Ivana Bacik said government must be more ambitious and act to harness Ireland’s wind and renewable energy potential and start prioritising solutions to the climate emergency. Responding to Wind Energy Ireland’s Bridging the Gap report, Deputy Bacik said the State needs to prioritise and support every measure possible to facilitate…

Labour spokesperson on health and disability, Duncan Smith has called on the Taoiseach, Michael Martin to personally intervene in an effort to settle an escalating dispute between unions and community sector employers by giving thousands of community and care workers a pay rise. The call comes following the commencement of a two-day stoppage in Irish…

HAP increases promised last month remain unchanged Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said renters relying on HAP are still struggling as the HAP increases announced last month have not yet been actioned by the Minister. Senator Moynihan said it is unbelievable that local authorities have not received communication from the Minister about the new discretionary…

Bringing budget forward by two weeks a ‘token exercise’ if only €400m to be spent up to Christmas Government can bring in targeted Back To School measures before Dáil break A billion in tax cuts a dangerous con-job Responding to the publication of the Summer Economic Statement, Labour’s Finance spokesperson Ged Nash said: “The Summer…