Deputy Willie Penrose reacts to the information emanating from the CSO Survey, that Ballynacargy has one of the lowest levels of broadband coverage in rural areas across the Country. Deputy Penrose Stated “There has been a cacophony of lip service to rural Ireland by many Ministers of various political persuasions over the last number of…

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called on the Government to guarantee that the housing budget will not be tapped to refund water charges. Last November, Deputy O’Sullivan questioned why the Department of Housing had an underspend of of €90 million at that time, in a Parliamentary Question to the previous Minister. Deputy O’Sullivan…

The Mid-Year Expenditure Report published today by Minister Donohoe makes for very worrying reading, while his appearance at the Budgetary Oversight Committee has created even greater cause for concern. Deputy Howlin commented:  “Firstly, we find that there would appear to be a further €48m to be found this year to pay the cost of bringing…

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has repeated his call for appropriate investment in the Emergency Department in Beaumont Hospital. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The problems in the Beaumont Hospital accident and emergency department persist.  When I was a Member of the Dáil, the then Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and I met with…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has said the third level sector needs to dramatically up its game and take positive action measures to increase the number of women in senior academic positions in Irish universities. It comes after new figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) revealed that while over half of all lecturers are women,…

Labour spokesperson on Equality, Cllr Deirdre Kingston has called for better transparency on immigration cases following the detention overnight of a Brazilian woman who was entitled to visit Ireland for up to 90 days. Cllr Kingston said answers are needed as to why the woman was detained, was due to be deported but then released…

Duncan Smith, Labour Party Councillor for Swords and keen angler, has described the latest fish kill on the River Tolka as another example of the vulnerability of our urban waterways to pollution.  Cllr Smith, who is leading a community angling initiative in Swords, was a junior member of the Tolka Trout Angling Association, has called…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on the HSE to ensure funding is continued for the Baby Friendly Health Initiative. Senator Humphreys said: “The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) is an international breastfeeding best practice strategy that is endorsed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and is vital to maintain international standards for maternity…