Labour Party Leader and spokesperson on Northern Ireland, Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister to both personally intervene to advance the stalled talks in Northern Ireland. Deputy Howlin said: “It is has been clear for some time now that the DUP and Sinn Fein will not by themselves do…

Commenting on the Catalonian declaration of independence, Labour Party Leader and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Brendan Howlin TD, has said dialogue is needed between Catalonia and Spain. Deputy Howlin said: “I’m not in a position to comment on the rights or wrongs of a Catalonian declaration of independence. That is a matter for the Catalonian…

Following continuing controversy over the naming of the National Children’s Hospital, Labour Leader Brendan Howlin has today called on Simon Harris to put an end to the idea of the hospital being named the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Deputy Howlin said: “It is unclear to us why so much was invested in an extensive process to…

Labour Party Leader and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Brendan Howlin TD, has welcomed remarks by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney, indicating that Brexit talks could not progress into trade or transition issues in December unless evident progress is made in relation to Irish issues. Deputy Howlin said: “In the House of…

Labour TD for Tipperary, Alan Kelly, has called today on Minister Eoghan Murphy to extend the timeline for submissions to the National Planning Framework by at least a month beyond November 10th to ensure people have time to make their views known on how to tackle regional imbalances. Deputy Kelly said: “The deadline for public…

Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan TD has urged the Government to make use of the thousands of vacant homes lying idle across the country in a bid to quickly tackle the homeless crisis. It comes as the latest figures from the Department of Housing show the number of people living in emergency accommodation has reached…

Labour TD Joan Burton has said the country needs to prepare for the possibility of a challenging winter ahead for the health service. Deputy Burton said: “Just as the country recently prepared for Storm Ophelia in terms of public announcements and putting safeguard arrangements in place, we need to now prepare for what could turn…

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the failure of the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil majority to pass anything at all in response to this week’s Private Members’ motion on the housing crisis is another example of the ‘do-nothing Dáil’ in action. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “I am disappointed but frankly not surprised that…