News – The Labour PartyLabour Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said the Government is once more demonstrating spin over substance when it comes to its commitment on Sláintecare. It follows media reports that today’s Cabinet meeting in Cork will focus on the ten-year plan for the health service, despite no mention of Sláintecare in…

News – The Labour PartyLabour TD for Westmeath, Willie Penrose TD has welcomed the commitment from Minister Denis Naughton to review the criteria for the connection of rural towns to the natural gas grid having raised the issue in the Dáil. Deputy Penrose wants to know if the criteria will be revised to ensure towns…

News – The Labour PartyLabour Party spokesperson on Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Jan O’Sullivan TD has called on the Government, in advance of Brexit, to establish a scheme to support Irish retailers to set up online e-commerce sites as a matter of urgency. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “With the threat of Brexit looming, online shopping is…

News – The Labour PartyLabour Leader Brendan Howlin has today written to the Standards in Public Office Commission, seeking advice relating to the budget announced for the Taoiseach’s personal spin operation in Budget 2018. Speaking this morning, Deputy Howlin said: “One of the greatest surprises contained in this Budget was the allocation of €5m to…

News – The Labour PartyLabour Party spokesperson on Community Arts, Councillor Rebecca Moynihan, has said that Budget 2018 does not go far enough to support the arts community. “Yesterday’s budget is a disappointing one for the arts sector. The 5% increase for the sector is a miserly attempt to lift up the sector despite soothing…

News – The Labour PartyThis Coffee Cup Budget had no central message other than self-preservation But it had no choice to do otherwise Because this Government is afraid to make choices. Beholden to Fianna Fail it ensured that every sector had a gesture. And there was a former Fianna Fail minister at the heart of…

News – The Labour PartyLabour spokesperson on Employment and Social Protection, Senator Ged Nash, has said its deeply unfair that social welfare increases announced in Budget 2018 won’t take effect until March, while tax cuts will be implemented from January. Senator Nash said: “Those who depend on the State for their income will be angered…

News – The Labour Party Labour Party spokesperson on Education, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said that this year’s budget exposes a total lack of vision for the third level sector. Senator Ó Ríordáin commented: “This Budget illustrates Fine Gael/Independent Alliance’s poverty of vision for free education. Nowhere is this more evident than in third…