Hope is not a strategy – winter plan needed Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik said it is outrageous to see a new record being broken by this Government on homelessness. Deputy Bacik said: “This Government’s failure to tackle the scourge of homelessness and the housing crisis will go down in the history books….

Minister Rabbitte must make good on her Budget commitments for autism services  Labour’s Alan Kelly has expressed his congratulations to Cara Darmody, autism services campaigner, on receiving 97% in maths in the Leaving Cert. Deputy Kelly said: “Cara Darmody has been a fantastic campaigner for autism services for her brother. A Tipperary native, she joined…

Families are struggling with the cost of living Labour calls for Windfall Tax  Alan Kelly TD, Labour TD for Tipperary, has condemned the high cost of energy in Ireland. Deputy Kelly said “The cost of energy is out of control. Energy companies have not passed on the lower wholesale prices of energy to retail consumers,…

Labour Leader and Chairperson of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality (which concluded in December 2022), Ivana Bacik TD, has echoed the concerns expressed today by civil society organisations, in urging the Government to publish the wording for the proposed constitutional referendum on gender equality, care and family. The National Women’s Council of Ireland,…

In anticipation of the publication of July’s homelessness figures by the Department of Housing this Friday (25th August), Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik TD has urged Minister O’Brien to implement an emergency Housing for All strategy ahead of the winter months. Deputy Bacik said: “The systemic failings in housing have been well documented….

Minister need to expedite process and approve pension increases for 7,000 An Post pensioners Seán Sherlock TD, Labour’s Social Protection Spokesperson, today called on the Government to urgently act on pension increases for An Post pensioners. The scheme has been approved by the Labour Court, the An Post pensions board of trustees and An Post’s…

State is spending €3.6m on capital and building expenses of private schools 10% increase in community policing would cost €3.7m Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, Labour spokesperson on Education and Justice, has called for the Government to re-prioritise public funding from private schools to community policing.  Answers to Parliamentary Questions reveal that up to €3.6 million…

Subminimum wages are exploitative Labour Youth is demanding that all workers, irrespective of their age, have access to the National Minimum Wage. Chairperson of Labour Youth, Lhamo Fitzsimons, said workers under 20 may be paid as low as €7.91 and too many employers are exploiting young people as cheap labour. Fitzsimons said: “It is hard…