Speaking in the Dail today on the Electricity Costs Bill, Deputy Ivana Bacik criticised the government’s proposed €100 electricity bill rebate as being tokenistic, saying that: “A once-off €100 electricity credit is simply insufficient – a mere drop in the ocean for hard-pressed households. We know that the cost of living has increased dramatically in…

Where is the VAT cut for energy bills? Youth Travel Card still nonexistent Work must pay – inflation busting wage increases needed Labour Party spokesperson on Finance, Ged Nash has today sharply criticised the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste for failing to get to grips with the runaway cost of living. Deputy Ged Nash said: “The…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith TD has said that frontline healthcare workers cannot play the price for poor planning and insisted that improving pay and conditions of workers must be a top priority for the Minister for Health. Deputy Smith said: “I was deeply disappointed that Minister Donnelly could not be present in the Chamber…

Labour Social Protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock has today said the government must now shelve plans to increase the pension age once and for all. Speaking following the publication of an Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection report on the Commission on Pensions Deputy Sherlock said: “The recommendations are to be welcomed and must not be ignored…

In the Dáil today, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly raised with the Taoiseach his decision to abolish the previous Cabinet Committee on National Security and asked when the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces would be published. Deputy Kelly said: “The current Taoiseach decided not to continue the Cabinet Committee on National Security…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the leaked decision to revert to the traditional leaving cert is a missed opportunity for the delivery of education in this country. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “There is huge disappointment and hurt from students throughout the country who have learned about the decision on this year’s leaving cert…

Bill seeks to amend the School Admissions Bill to remove the automatic right of entry of past pupils as part of the admission criteria for school entry A Labour Bill to stamp out the elitism in how schools admit pupils will be discussed in the Education Committee tomorrow, February 1st. Labour’s Education (Admission to Schools…

The Labour Party Spokesperson for Integration and TD for Dublin Bay South Ivana Bacik TD has welcomed the opening of the new regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland today. Deputy Bacik said: “Today marks a very happy and anxious one for the undocumented migrant community. I have heard from a number of people for…