Labour Senator Mark Wall has called for a common sense approach to tackle increased littering throughout the country. Local Councils must be empowered to prosecute littering and illegal dumping which will serve as a deterrent, but the public must have access to better facilities to dispose of their waste. As the country looks forward to…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has said she is appalled by the findings of the report of the Children’s Ombudsman into the treatment of children within the direct provision system, and has urged the Minister to conduct a full investigation into the treatment of children within direct provision centres throughout the country. This must be the…

Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin will be joined by Seán Sherlock TD and Sen. Ivana Bacik on the Leinster House plinth at 11.30am today, Tuesday 27th April to launch Labour’s motion calling for a National Autism Empowerment Strategy. It follows the ongoing problems faced by parents of autistic children in accessing health and…

Following news that the numbers contacting the National Adult Literacy Agency (Nala) continues to rise during the pandemic, Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD has called for the introduction of a single State agency to tackle Ireland’s literacy problem. Key to increasing literacy across adults will be improving the standards and terms of adult…

Labour spokesperson for employment affairs, Senator Marie Sherlock, has said the outcome of the Citizens’ Assembly deliberations is a major breakthrough in the pursuit of gender equality in Ireland. Senator Sherlock said : “The breadth of the recommendations recognise that there is so much work to be done to bring about greater gender equality- whether…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality today, calling it a landmark day for gender equality in Ireland. Following a year and a half of discussions, 45 recommendations have been put forward to level the playing field for men and women in Ireland. Senator Bacik said: “I…

Labour employment affairs spokesperson Senator Marie Sherlock has written to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris raising deep concerns about the treatment of Debenham’s workers in Dublin yesterday. Senator Sherlock noted that Gardaí have a job to do in the balancing the rights of businesses and ensuring the safety and dignity of workers and bystanders but noted that…

Average processing time of 25 months for citizenship applications means stronger communication from Government needed Speaking upon receipt of parliamentary question responses which indicate a significant increase in wait-times for citizenship applications in 2020 and 2021, Labour Seanad Group Leader and Party Spokesperson for Integration, Senator Ivana Bacik has called on the Government to engage…