Speaking in the Dail today, Alan Kelly asked Health Minister Simon Harris to provide an up-to-date list of section 38 entities which receive funding from the HSE and for a full breakdown of the funding each organisation received from 2013 to 2015. He said: “I’m calling on the Minister to publish all HSE audits of…

On the Order of Business today, Senator Ivana Bacik expressed her concern regarding the proposal to introduce a scheme of income contingent student loans to fund third level education, and called for a debate on the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education chaired by Peter Cassells. Senator Bacik said: “It…

A news report in the Guardian this week suggesting that the latest draft version of the TTIP agreement could all but end European efforts to save energy and switch to clean power, is very worrying. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/11/leaked-ttip-energy-proposal-could-sabotage-eu-climate-policy According to the piece, the EU will propose a rollback of mandatory energy savings measures, and remove obstacles to…

It is welcome that the Cassells report is proposing that whatever funding model is chosen for third level education, that part time students would be funded in the same manner as full time students. The report also proposes an extension of student supports to part time students. Part time third level students, many of whom…

I welcome the publication of today’s GDP growth figures for 2015. Even when we strip away the effect of companies relocating assets to Ireland, the economic growth figures are stratospheric. Labour in government delivered national economic recovery and unprecedented growth. In introducing new collective bargaining laws, re-establishing wage setting mechanisms such as Registered Employment Agreement…

Labour Youth National Chairperson Grace Williams has called on Fianna Fáil to rule out supporting the introduction of student loans. Williams commented: “Fianna Fáil Education and Skills Spokesperson Thomas Byrne said on Morning Ireland his party are open to the idea of introducing student loans.  “This is a deeply regressive and ill thought out position….

Earlier today the Living Wage Technical Group reported that the living wage rate for 2016 is €11.50. I am calling on the government to act on this recommendation and to set out a roadmap to introduce a living wage to Ireland.  The introduction of a living wage in London has been effective in improving working…

Labour Youth has reiterated its call for state funded higher education following the publication of the Cassells Report today presenting options for funding higher education.  Labour Youth National Chairperson Grace Williams commented: “We welcome the inclusion of publicly funded higher education as an option within the Cassells Report. However, it is crucial that this option…