Labour spokesperson on the Arts, Joan Burton, has expressed her sadness at the news of the death of Leonard Cohen overnight and paid tribute to him as one of the great artists of our time. Deputy Burton said: “I am so sad to hear of Leonard Cohen’s passing and offer my sincere condolences to his…

The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 was introduced in the Seanad at Second Stage on 20th January 2016, on behalf of the Labour Party Senators, as a private members’ bill initiated by Senator Ivana Bacik. The Bill was accepted by then Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton and passed Second Stage. Labour Senators brought…

Senator’s Ivana Bacik and Ged Nash will be available to speak to reporters at 2pm today, Thursday 10th November outside the Kildare St gates of Leinster House with representatives of the NUJ and SIPTU. This is in advance of the report and final stages of our COMPETITION (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 at 2.15pm today in the…

Labour spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Alan Kelly, has called on the Government to outline how it plans to respond to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals to slash the US corporate tax rate from 35 to 15 per cent. The tax measures, which are outlined in Mr Trump’s ‘America First’ economic plan, would also end…

Senator Ivana Bacik, Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, today expressed her disappointment at the result of the US election and defeat of Hillary Clinton. Speaking in the Seanad during the Order of Business, Senator Bacik said: “The result declared this morning in the US Presidential election represents a real disappointment for all of us who…

Like many Irish people, and people all around the world, I went to bed last night feeling apprehensive, and woke up to realise that a nightmare had become a reality. A man who has, at every opportunity, sought to demean and belittle whole swathes of his society, has become the leader of the largest free…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan, is calling on the Government to introduce measures to bring certainty for renters. It comes after the latest rental figures from property website Daft.ie show residential rents have soared nationally by 11.7 per cent year-on year in the third quarter- the highest annual rate of…

Welcoming the proposals to amend Councillor PRSI benefits in the Social Welfare Bill, Deputy Willie Penrose today said: “The Social Welfare Bill was published last Friday, just four days ago, covering all the changes announced in Budget 2017. It was signed off by the Cabinet last week. I welcome this change which has been long…