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…

Uncertainty must be addressed, and school communities consulted with. Knock on consequences of an extra week of closure will need to be addressed. School communities already under huge stress from challenges of remaining open and Covid free. Responding to the breaking news from the Irish Independent that the school mid-term break may be extended by…

Small drawdowns confirms that schemes aren’t working for businesses. Instead of sending letters Tánaiste should look at reducing the interest rate on loans. Less than a quarter of Working Capital Scheme and Brexit loan applications approved With less than 20% of government Covid-19 and Brexit supports being drawn down, Labour Enterprise spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin…