Increase in transactions tax on investors would give first time buyers a leg-up. A 15% rate applies in the UK to those buying more than 1 residential property worth over €1.5m pounds. Would have an immediate impact if introduced now. Other tax measures to target their profits still needed. Labour Finance spokesperson Ged Nash has…

Responding to UK government proposals to provide an amnesty to soldiers accused of crimes in Northern Ireland, Labour spokesperson Brendan Howlin said: “Most people involved in building or advocating for peace on our island over the past 30 years will be dismayed at the recent developments in Northern Ireland. “A unilateral decision made by the…

Middle and low income earners will remain priced out of market by investment funds. Affordable Housing Bill does nothing to support single people. Minister must act on his 2019 Bill that proposed to ringfence housing for first time buyers.  Labour housing spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan has welcomed the news that the Government will examine blocking…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on Government to commit to a blanket moratorium on any school losing teachers in September. Given the nature of the pandemic and the continued impact it will have on school communities, Government must assure all schools that they will have the same number of staff as they…

Speaking in the Dáil today, Labour climate spokesperson Duncan Smith said that the Government must lead by example and embed principles of the Just Transition into the Climate Action Bill. Deputy Smith raised the example of Pat Barrett, who operated a family bike rental business in Lough Boora, Co. Offaly for the past 11 years,…

Labour Senator Mark Wall has called on Government to immediately address the means test for carers allowance following the revelation by Family Carers Ireland that 49% of those on the carers allowance payment are not getting the full €219 payment. Speaking at the Oireachtas committee on Social Protection and Rural Affairs, Senator Wall stated that…

Minister Donohoe must veto reappointment of AIB non-executive directors over bank’s handling of tracker scandal Majority State-owned bank must show lessons have been learned over trackers AIB had single biggest tracker redress issues involving payments of €300m to 6,000 borrowers who were wrongly denied trackers. In advance of AIB’s AGM tomorrow (Thursday, 6 May 2021),…

Minister must act on his 2019 Bill that proposed to ringfence housing for first time buyers.  Housing policy must be refocused for people, not investment funds. If the Minister for Housing does not act on his 2019 Bill to block cuckoo funds from buying up housing developments, the Labour Party will reintroduce his Bill word…