The confirmation today that the Government has finally moved on a HIV PrEP programme is welcome and builds on a long campaign that has sought improved and free access to PrEP to combat the transmission of HIV. Labour LGBT spokesperson Karl Hayden said: “For some time Labour has been calling for greater investment in public…

Labour spokesperson on Transport, Senator Kevin Humphreys, has said the Government has missed a trick by not outlining plans to expand and extend the hugely successful public bike scheme in Budget 2020. Senator Humphreys said: “The public bike scheme, which was first proposed by Labour in Dublin back in 2004, has been incredibly successful in…

Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has criticised the cut of €20m to the Education capital programme which will directly impact on children who will now have to spend more time in prefabs, and said it was reckless of FG to raid the capital budget because of failures to adequately fund services. Sen. Ó Ríordáin…

Reacting to the situation in North Syria, and to yesterday’s statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, called on the government to seek sanctions against Turkey at next week’s European Council meeting. Deputy Howlin said: “Military action by Turkey against the Kurdish people in Syria is…

The Labour Party’s Bill to scrap voluntary contributions is being debated at Committee Stage in the Seanad this evening. Speaking ahead of the debate, Labour’s Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said: “Conversations between parents and teachers should be about education- not money. “But the current status quo means parents are facing major financial blocks…

Labour Justice spokesperson Seán Sherlock has called on the Minister for Justice to clarify why he has resiled from his own Programme for Government commitment to recruit 800 garda trainees a year and what the reason for only taking in 700 next year is. Deputy Sherlock said: “The budget announcement for the Department of Justice…

  Yesterday, Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance, with their Fianna Fáil partners, delivered a depressing budget.   Brexit is a real and present danger to our economy.   But that does not mean that all social progress should halt.   This is a “do nothing” budget by Fine Gael that won’t protect many of…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has questioned the Government’s ability to deliver free dental care for children under 6. Deputy Kelly said: “Like many measures announced by Fine Gael in yesterday’s Budget, their proposals on providing free dental care for under 6s is scant on detail. “We know that they aim to have…