In a topical issue debate last night, Labour spokesperson on social protection Willie Penrose called for the local independent structures of the 51 Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) companies to be maintained. There are plans underway to merge voluntary local Boards for the Money and Advice Budgeting Service, and Citizens Information service into regional…

Labour spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Jan O’Sullivan has said there are serious problems that need to ironed out before Minister Zappone introduces the Affordable Childcare scheme. “Responses by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and POBAL to my questions during pre-legislative scrutiny on the new Affordable Childcare scheme raise serious concerns that…

Labour’s Jobs Spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has called on the Government to examine whether it can tap into the European Globalisation Fund for workers at Hewlett Packard. Up to 500 jobs look set to go at the company, which is to close its printing plant in Leixlip in Kildare over the next year. Commenting on…

Labour spokesperson on health Alan Kelly TD has said that an independent review of waiting list figures, how they are compiled, and the accuracy of the data still needs to be carried out. An internal audit by the NTPF is not sufficient. Deputy Kelly said: “The Minister needs to commission an independent review of how…

Today at Leader’s Questions, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach where the extra €350 million for the Children’s Hospital would come from. The Taoiseach was unable to say where this extra money would come from and referred to the €1 billion sum as speculation. It will have a serious impact on our ability…

Labour spokesperson on Health Alan Kelly TD has called for an independent probe into the compilation and publication of waiting lists by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. It follows last night’s RTÉ Investigates programme, which claimed thousands of extra patients are waiting on unpublished lists. Deputy Kelly commented: “I am concerned that the public has…

Labour Party spokesperson on Education, Joan Burton has today called on the Minister for Education and Skills to publish an updated Action Plan on Bullying. “Not six months has passed since Minister Bruton published his last Action Plan for Education, and in today’s updated version, the Minister makes scant reference to tackling bullying. “A year…

Labour’s Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, says clarity is needed on the total number of people currently waiting for operations or medical procedures in Irish hospitals. It comes as RTÉ reports that at least two lists have not been published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, meaning the overall figure may be double the amount….