Reliance on gas must be reduced Labour leader and climate spokesperson Ivana Bacik today urged Tánaiste Mícheál Martin to progress radical change in transport and energy policy to tackle Ireland’s climate failures. Deputy Bacik said: “According to Eurostat, Ireland had the largest increase in emissions in the EU last year, one of just four countries…

Labour justice spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on Government to implement much needed injection centres nationwide. Following a report published by the Health Research Board (HRB) published yesterday that noted of the 84 homeless people who died in 2019, 55% of these deaths were as a result of drugs. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The…

Labour Party Senator and Workers’ Rights Spokesperson Marie Sherlock has said Government must move to halve the waiting times to work for those seeking international protection in Ireland. Senator Sherlock said: “Asylum seekers and refugees from countries, other than Ukraine, are forced to wait six months before seeking work. Anyone who has ever spent time…

National Minimum Wage and social welfare payments must establish living income for all Labour social protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock said Budget 2024 must be a levelling budget for all people in Ireland. Supporting Treoir’s call to implement a Minimum Standard of Living, Deputy Sherlock said the conservative coalition cannot fritter anymore of tax payers money…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has called for a root and branch analysis of HSE-run nursing homes in the wake of a HIQA report into operations nationwide. Deputy Smith said: “Anyone who has a loved one in a nursing homes hopes that they are treated with dignity, respect and care. “The HIQA report published today…

Commenting about renters’ rights, following the move by the British Government to publish the Renters’ (Reform) Bill, Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik urged Government to progress Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill to level the playing field for those struggling to rent in Ireland. Deputy Bacik said: “It’s not often that we can take legislative…

Labour workers’ rights spokesperson Marie Sherlock welcomed reports that Minister Harris is seeking to address the issues of apprentice pay particularly for the construction trades. Senator Sherlock said that the rate needs to be set at a rate that will attract in and retain apprentices. Senator Sherlock said: “The reality is that trade apprentices are…

The Labour Party is set to introduce a bill to give the Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) new powers to examine the profits and price setting policies of the country’s giant retailers and take enforcement action where prices are found to be excessive. The Labour Party spokesperson on Enterprise, Ged Nash TD said: “I have been…