The failure of the Government to appoint a Minister of State for the Arts and Heritage will come as a major disappointment for the arts community and represents a missed opportunity by the Government to build bridges with arts practitioners working around the country. Yesterday in the Dail I made the point that the Arts…

I hope the newly appointed Minister of State for Employment and Small Business pursues addressing the concerns of working people with the same vigour and determination as my colleague Ged Nash did as Minister for Business and Employment. Labour in government increased the minimum wage twice and strengthened trade union rights against domestic and international…

Speaking in Dáil Éireann I am glad to have an opportunity to speak in this debate.  The issue of reform has been talked about since I was first elected to this House nearly 30 years ago.  Like draining the River Shannon and restoring the Irish language, it is a permanent concept to which we all…

The Technological Universities Bill must be progressed in the Oireachtas without delay, Jan O’Sullivan told the Dail today. “As Minister for Education, I got the Bill as far as Report Stage in the Dail before the general election and it is imperative that it moves as quickly as possible. “Already the consortium in Dublin has…

When the Water Services Act 2014 was being drafted Labour ensured that there was a provision in the legislation to guarantee that the utility and the infrastructure associated with it, would remain in public ownership, by stipulating that there could be no sale of the assets without a referendum. In the context of a Government…

Labour TD for Wexford and former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, has welcomed the official publication of the Benefacts website which brings information about Ireland’s not for profit sector into a single online database. Deputy Howlin commented: “This is a project I was particularly pleased to advance as Minister for Public Expenditure…

Speaking in the Dáil Deputy Sherlock remarked: “Let us get away from hackneyed debate and encourage more to speak Irish.” Gabhaim buíochas as an deis labhairt anseo inniu.  Níl mo chuid Gaeilge ró-mhaith, ach táim ag cleachtadh.  I mBunreacht na hÉireann aithnítear an Ghaeilge már ár dteanga phríomha don Stát.  Samhlaítear dúinn go bhfuil dualgas…

Speaking on behalf of the Labour Party Deputy Sean Sherlock commented: “The Labour Party intends to support the passage of the Fianna Fáil Variable Rate Mortgage Bill to committee stage. “In the spirt of the new dispensation that exists in Dáil Eireann Labour believes that this Bill, is worthy of further discussion at committee stage….