Labour Longford Westmeath TD, Willie Penrose, has welcomed the announcement that a special medal is to be awarded to the Irish soldiers who fought during the Siege of Jadotville in 1961. Deputy Penrose said: “This is a very welcome announcement that those soldiers who fought so valiantly during the Siege of Jadotville in 1961 are…

Minister Varadkar, On a personal level, I want to wish you well today. While my party cannot support your election as Taoiseach on the basis of the existing programme for Government, it is a proud day for you. Equally, I am sure it is a happy day for your partner Matthew, for your parents Ashok…

Following two announcements as in as many days demonstrating how the Eighth Amendment has yet again failed the women of Ireland, Labour Women is calling for the end of delaying tactics by the government to hold a referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment. Chair of Labour Women Sinead Ahern commented: “Yet again after more horrific…

Taoiseach, I want to wish you well on your retirement as Taoiseach. Others, I have no doubt, will use the opportunity provided by this debate to attack you and your legacy. I won’t do that.  But neither will I embarrass either of us by presenting a hagiography of you! We served, of course, in two…

Labour member of the Oireachtas Committee on the Citizens’ Assembly, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called on the incoming Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to commit to holding a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. “For the second time, the UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that our current laws surrounding abortion are ‘cruel, inhumane, degrading’. This is…

Labour Party Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has said that the decision by the UN Committee on Human Rights in respect of Siobhan Whelan needs to be responded to in a timely way. This is the second time in a year that Ireland has been found by the UN Human Rights Committee to have…

Labour Spokesperson for Public Expenditure, Seán Sherlock TD, has welcomed reports that the so-called ‘rainy day fund’ long mooted by Michael Noonan, may yet be shelved in favour of increased spending on capital infrastructure. Deputy Sherlock said: “The Labour Party has long been calling on the Government to scrap the so-called rainy day fund and…

Limerick Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan has welcomed news today that up to 400 jobs are to come on stream for the city at US financial services company Northern Trust over the next five years. Deputy O’Sullivan commented: “This jobs boost is another welcome vote of confidence in Limerick, and comes on the back of previous…