Labour leader Brendan Howlin has today called on the Government to expedite the establishment of the promised root-and-branch review of an Garda Síochána, and has published draft terms of reference for an independent commission to carry out such a review. But he warned that this must not be used as an excuse to long-finger the…

Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture, Willie Penrose, has called on the Government to bring in comprehensive safeguards to protect the agri-food sector and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. “The €1.5 billion received by Irish farmers annually must be guaranteed in any post-Brexit adjustments to the EU Budget and the Government must ensure that…

Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONALS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 Detailed Scrutiny Opening statement of Brendan Howlin TD  AGREED APPROACH IN TACKLING ROGUE CRISIS PREGNANCY ‘COUNSELLORS’  30th March 2017, 9:00 am  I am grateful to the Committee for inviting me to make a statement. Members will recall that this initiative was taken…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin today attended a meeting of all member parties of the Party of European Socialists (PES), to discuss in detail ways of revising the fiscal rules of the Stability and Growth Pact to allow for greater public investment. Commenting after the working group meeting, Deputy Howlin said: “The rules that govern…

Senator Ged Nash has said that legislation from government on precarious work must comply with ‘the letter and spirit’ of the University of Limerick proposals he published in government.  Government legislation designed to improve the working conditions of employees in precarious work is expected in a matter of days. Senator Nash said: “Making work pay…

Labour Tipperary TD and vice chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly, has expressed concern about an interim report highlighting financial irregularities at the Garda training college in Templemore. Deputy Kelly commented: “This report raises a number of concerns, not least the time it’s taken to publish it, given that these issues go back…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has criticised Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney for excluding Limerick, Waterford and Drogheda from rent pressure zones. “Yet again, we see that Limerick, Waterford and Drogheda have not been included in the next round of rent pressure zones announced by the Minister for Housing today. “This is disastrous…

Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is continuing his campaign for appropriate investment in the Emergency Department in Beaumont Hospital with a public meeting in Donaghmede Inn on Thursday evening the 30th of March at 8pm. “I have been campaigning for increased investment in the Beaumont Hospital’s Emergency Department for a number of years. “On the…