Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has criticised the government for extraordinary waiting lists for outpatients in the South East, with some patients now waiting up to 4 years.  Deputy Howlin said:  “I have raised with the Minister the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce outpatient waiting lists and waiting times, in particular, waiting times…

Labour TD, Jan O’Sullivan, has paid tribute to musician and academic Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin Speaking today Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Micheál Ó’Súilleabháin will be greatly missed for his huge contribution to Irish music but his spirit will live on through all who have heard his music, learned from him and experienced his energy, enthusiasm, and warmth….

Labour Spokesperson on Children Sean Sherlock TD, has welcomed the announcement from HIQA of National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres. Speaking today Deputy Sherlock said: “I welcome the announcement from HIQA of new standards launched to support children living in residential care. With over 400 children in care in Ireland is it of the utmost…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called on the Government to roll out a free sanitary product scheme in all schools. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Ó Ríordain said: “My colleagues Councillors Deirdre Kingston and Councillor Rebecca Moynihan have secured funding to provide free sanitary products in their respective council areas. “In September,…

Labour Party spokesperson on Employment, Ged Nash, has said the latest comments by the Taoiseach on healthcare workers shows how fatally inept Fine Gael is when it comes to industrial relations. Senator Nash said: “The Taoiseach needs to reflect on the comments he made about healthcare workers in the Dáil chamber yesterday. “The root cause…

Labour Party Health spokesperson has said that the Taoiseach is out of touch when it comes to the work nurses do during crisis periods in our health services. Deputy Kelly said: “The comments by the Taoiseach yesterday on nurses and consultants taking annual leave were completely out of touch. The Taoiseach and the Minister for…

Labour Spokesperson for Equality and Councillor in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Deirdre Kingston has welcomed the decision by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to provide free sanitary products in county libraries. Cllr Kingston proposed the initiative at tonight’s Budget meeting. The move follows a decision by Dublin City Council in September following a motion from Cllr….

At the Oireachtas Education Committee today, Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education to agree to hold an inquiry into how the situation with Western Building Systems arose, and in particular the negative impact on schools in Tyrrelstown. He acknowledged that answers were needed. Deputy Burton said: “At the Oireachtas…