After NUI Galway committed to refunding student accommodation fees to students who no longer wish to take up places in on-campus housing, Labour Higher Education spokesperson Annie Hoey said:   “Students face a difficult choice as they return to college and start new courses. There is grave uncertainty about the level of restrictions that may…

Government supports for direct links to Europe needed and new providers must be secured. State Connectivity fund of €240m must be used to reduce dependency on landbridge. Rosslare and Cork can rebalance links and address strategic weaknesses. With transport chaos likely in the UK in a no trade deal scenario, Labour Brexit spokesperson Brendan Howlin…

Govt have trumpeted 1500 new beds but there are only an additional 500 contained with the plan No detail on where additional staff will come from The Government need to clarify the exact number and breakdown of beds in the HSE Winter Plan according to Labour Leader, Alan Kelly T.D who was speaking at Leaders…

Labour welcomes the Central Bank imposing a fine of €18.3 million on KBC. KBC CEO’s previous statement that the Tracker Mortgage Examination was ‘annoying’ is a terrible indictment on KBC and the culture in banks. Paschal Donohoe is dragging his heels on the Senior Executive Accountability Regime for bankers Responding to the Central Bank fining…

Confirmation needed that practice is isolated to Manor Farms. HSA and Department need to ensure workers are protected and not charged. Workers should have paid sick leave protection. Responding to the revelation in the Irish Examiner that workers in Manor Farms were being charged for PPE, Labour Agriculture spokesperson Seán Sherlock called on the HSA…

Reacting to the news that trade union representatives have withdrawn from the Low Pay Commission due to a failure to consider a meaningful increase to the minimum wage, Labour Spokesperson on Employment Affairs, Senator Marie Sherlock said:   “The future of the Low Pay Commission is now seriously in question. The Government must act to ensure…

Six-month delay is rubbish They cannot claim to follow public health advice unless they support this bill The Government hypocrisy on sick pay is nauseating according to Labour Leader Alan Kelly who was speaking on the Labour Party’s Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020 in the Dáil. Deputy Kelly said: “Currently sick pay…

Speaking during the Dáil debate on Labour’s Sick Pay Bill, Labour Justice spokesperson Brendan Howlin called on the government to reconsider the use of a delaying amendment that he described as cynical, and a device used when there is no moral argument against a proposal but simply a tactic used to delay it. Deputy Howlin…