Speech by Ged Nash TD, Labour Finance spokesperson on Budget 2021. Check against delivery We have known deadly disease on our island before. In the 1800’s the Great Hunger saw millions emigrate or die, from famine but also diptheria, cholera, fever and smallpox. In the last century, tuberculosis – TB – consumption, destroyed thousands of…

No hope for housing crisis unless State ramps up construction beyond todays weak commitments Help to Buy will only inflate housing prices and shared equity line developers pockets Labour called for over €1 billion extra to be invested to deliver an extra 10,000 homes. Nothing for renters in Budget as evictions and rent increases return….

Paltry increase in minimum wage. No action on sick pay. Billions for business but no conditions on employment. Any worker hoping for real support in Budget 2021 will be bitterly disappointed said Labour Employment spokesperson Marie Sherlock highlighting the miserly increase in the minimum wage, the failure to provide any right to paid sick leave,…

Restoring the cut to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment would cost appox. €10m a week. For second year in a row no increase to weekly social welfare payments. Budget only delays Pension Age increase for one year giving no certainty for older workers. FF backbenchers make a lot of noise but fail to deliver. Responding to…

Biggest increase is in under 25’s with over 10,000 new claimants. Most claimants now in under 25, and 25 – 34 age cohorts. Budget must deliver for young people with new training places and continued income supports. Figures published today show an increase of over 10,000 people aged under 25 claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment…

Responding to reports that the rate of VAT in the hospitality industry will drop from 13.5% to 9% in next weeks Budget, Labour Finance Spokesperson Ged Nash said: “The problem for the struggling hospitality sector is not demand but the fact that people cannot go out to socialise. No amount of populist and expensive tax…

commitment also needed on Christmas Bonus. Commenting on kite flying about potential measures in the Budget next week, Labour Social Protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock called for the reinstatement of the four extra weeks of fuel allowance in 2021 and a commitment to pay the Christmas Bonus. Deputy Sherlock said: “There will be an increase in…

All studies show visors are not effective   Labour Leader and Health Spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD,  has called for a public awareness campaign emphasising the wearing of masks and not visors.   Deputy Kelly raised the matter in the Dáil with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.   Deputy Kelly said:  “While people who…