Labour Spokesperson for Climate Action Sean Sherlock has welcomed the passage of his Prohibition of Microplastics Bill at second stage in the Dáil today. The Bill now moves onto committee stage following the abstention of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who together had blocked a previous bill in the Seanad. Deputy Sherlock said: “This is…

Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Senator Ivana Bacik, has expressed concern at reports Ireland may have voted in favour of Saudi Arabia securing a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify the Irish position.  Senator Bacik commented: “Saudi Arabia has an…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has described the new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 as a ‘welcome start’ on the road toward greater equality between men and women, and reiterated the Labour Party’s commitment to legislate for gender pay gap transparency and so-called ‘revenge porn’. Senator Bacik commented: “Any moves to bring about greater…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has criticised the Government for delaying progress on collective bargaining rights for freelance workers. “The Government have today confirmed that Labour’s Bill to give collective bargaining rights to freelancers is stuck in parliamentary limbo. “As we approach the first anniversary of this Government, we have heard much about ‘new…

I will speak in favour of this Bill on behalf of the Labour Party. I congratulate and thank Deputy Browne and his colleagues on bringing it forward. It is very good legislation and it is a matter in which the Deputy has a keen interest and which he pursues consistently. The Bill seeks to integrate…

Commenting on the news tonight that the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) has reached agreement with the Department of Education on the sale of Harold’s Cross greyhound stadium, Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly had said the board has serious questions to answer. Deputy Kelly said: “The Irish Grehound Board, tasked with developing and…

Labour spokesperson for Dublin Senator Kevin Humphreys, and local Labour Cllr Mary Freehill have welcomed the purchase of the Harold’s Cross Greyhound stadium by the Department of Education for provision of the future schooling needs of the area. Senator Humphreys and Cllr Freehill are now calling on Dublin City Council to immediately start work on…

Labour spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Senator Ged Nash, has said that the Government’s draft legislative proposals to address ‘if-and-when’ contracts appear similar to a curate’s egg, good in parts. The proposals follow a study by the University of Limerick, which was commissioned by Senator Nash in Government, into the prevalence of these contracts. Senator Nash…