Labour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed Minister Finian McGrath’s U-turn in support of cigarette taxes. Senator Humphreys commented: “Finian McGrath used to be staunchly opposed to cigarette taxes. Just last year in the Dáil, McGrath described cigarette taxes as punitive and populist. He was also a vocal critic of the successful smoking ban in…

This afternoon I informed my colleagues in the Labour Parliamentary Party that I intend to stand down as Leader of the party once my successor is elected. I have asked that the Executive Board of the party immediately make arrangements for the election of the new Leader under the provisions of the party constitution. I…

Firstly can I convey my very sincere congratulations to Richard Bruton on his appointment as Minister for Education and Skills.   It was the privilege of my political career to serve as Minister for Education and Skills.  The new Minister will find an excellent team in Marlborough Street thoroughly committed to public education in its…

Labour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has expressed concern that the economic and social progress achieved in urban areas will be side-lined by the new government. Senator Humphreys commented: “It is important that every government places equal importance on the needs of rural and urban Ireland. This is why the previous government designed a comprehensive jobs…

Ceann Comhairle, The Labour Party will be voting against the nomination of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach today. We do principally because this new government arrangement is a charade. Talking yesterday about the length of time it has taken to produce this deeply flawed arrangement, my colleague, Willie Penrose, referred to the old saying that a…

Following the news that President Obama is considering establishing a national monument to honour the LGBT movement in America, I believe the Irish government should follow suit. It would be a fitting tribute to the hardship and discrimination LGBT people in Ireland have suffered in their fight for equality and serve as a call to…

Speaking on Dail Eireann Statements on Crime Ceann Comhairle, In recent weeks, we have seen a string of cold-blooded murders and attempted assassinations on the streets of Dublin. It is clear that the criminals behind this murderous feud have no compassion for life, no respect for society, and do not fear the State.  It is…

Speaking on behalf of Parliamentary Labour Party Narrow political self-interest has trumped fair play and sound policy, with compliant taxpayers squeezed in the middle in the deal hatched between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. It seems to me that the two priorities of this document are first to set out the ‘pre-nup’ for how this…