Speaking at Labour Women Nollaig na mBan Event It’s a real privilege to be here with you this evening and I want to wish you all a very happy Nollaig na mBan. Last week, as you know, President Higgins convened the Council of State to advise on the International Protection Bill. There’s a large oil…

Labour TD Ciaran Lynch has welcomed news that retail sales have increased 9.3% in the last 12 months, according to fresh CSO figures released this afternoon. Deputy Lynch said: “From October to November this year, the volume of retail sales rose by 2.2.%, with electrical goods and department store sales showing the strongest growth. “Overall,…

It has become increasingly clear this week that the recovery we are now experiencing in Ireland is not only jobs-rich, but is one that is taking hold in all regions across the country. Today we see where IDA Ireland, the Government agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment, has announced that total employment in overseas…

I was saddened to hear of the sudden death of golf legend, Christy O’Connor Jnr. My thoughts first and foremost are with his wife Ann, children, Nigel and Ann along with his extended family and friends. Christy led a very active and full life; he achieved great successes as a golfer. He competed in over…

The Government has today announced that it will increase the Direct Provision Allowance (DPA) for children by an additional €6.00 per week. This will bring the allowance to €15.60 per week for each child. The increase to the allowance will directly benefit children and their families living in Direct Provision centres and those coming to…

Cork South West Labour Party TD Michael McCarthy has welcomed the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office which show that 29,000 more people are in work than in December 2014. Deputy McCarthy commented: “The fact that so many more people are back in work than in December 2014 again demonstrates that Labour’s plan to…

 The Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD has welcomed new unemployment figures published today which show that unemployment is continuing to fall. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the unemployment rate for December 2015 was 8.8%.  This is down significantly from the same period last year, when the jobless…

On foot of last night’s RTE documentary on the closure of Clerys department store, Dublin Central Labour Party TD Joe Costello has reiterated his call on the owners of Clerys, Natrium, to meet with the former workers to negotiate a fair redundancy package.  Deputy Costello commented: “On the 12th June 2015 Natrium bought Clerys and…