Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has said the third level sector needs to dramatically up its game and take positive action measures to increase the number of women in senior academic positions in Irish universities. It comes after new figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) revealed that while over half of all lecturers are women,…

Labour spokesperson on Equality, Cllr Deirdre Kingston has called for better transparency on immigration cases following the detention overnight of a Brazilian woman who was entitled to visit Ireland for up to 90 days. Cllr Kingston said answers are needed as to why the woman was detained, was due to be deported but then released…

Duncan Smith, Labour Party Councillor for Swords and keen angler, has described the latest fish kill on the River Tolka as another example of the vulnerability of our urban waterways to pollution.  Cllr Smith, who is leading a community angling initiative in Swords, was a junior member of the Tolka Trout Angling Association, has called…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on the HSE to ensure funding is continued for the Baby Friendly Health Initiative. Senator Humphreys said: “The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) is an international breastfeeding best practice strategy that is endorsed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and is vital to maintain international standards for maternity…

Speech by Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Labour Party to MacGill Summer School As our programme points out, reform of the Garda Síochána has featured several times over recent years at MacGill. As someone who has been calling for Garda reform for well over a decade, this is welcome. But, I believe, this debate…

Labour spokesperson on Climate Action and the Environment, Senator Ivana Bacik, has welcomed the publication of the new National Mitigation Plan but is calling on the Government to commit to more substantive measures to tackle climate change. Senator Bacik commented: “I welcome the publication of today’s plan on climate action, and hope it indicates a…

Labour Cllr for Dun Laoghaire, Deirdre Kingston has said there is a lot more that needs to happen before the sale agreement on the Clonkeen pitches is signed, sealed and delivered. Cllr. Kingston said: “Recent reports from the Minister for Education suggest that the sale is a done deal. “I don’t accept that. There is…

Labour spokesperson on Worker’s Rights, Senator Ged Nash has said that the government is making extremely hard work of their pledge to increase the National Minimum Wage to €10.50 per hour. Senator Nash said: “While modest, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation to increase the rate by 30 cent an hour to €9.55 is a welcome…