Speech by Brendan Howlin, T.D., Leader of the Labour Party At the launch of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Good morning, Martina and Margaret have spoken eloquently about the problems that we are hoping to resolve with this Bill. It falls to me to briefly set out how…

Labour Justice Spokesperson, Brendan Howlin TD, has today published a Bill that aims to modernise Ireland’s existing harassment legislation to safeguard people against all forms of harassment, including stalking, cyber- bullying and so-called ‘revenge porn’. The Harassment and Related Offences Bill 2017 follows recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission in its report on Harmful…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD has said that the Government’s housing policies are directly causing the surge in prices, and that the help to buy scheme has accelerated the rise.Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The rapidly increasing price of housing is a direct result of the policies that the Fine Gael Government, ably supported by…

Labour spokesperson on energy, Sean Sherlock has said that if we are serious about meeting carbon reduction targets the State must lead on energy efficiency across its infrastructure, with energy audits and specific targets for all public buildings, a deep renovation programme and increased funding for residential and commercial building retrofitting. Deputy Sherlock said: “Ireland…

Brendan Howlin will today launch legislation at 11am in the Royal College of Physicians, 6 Kildare St, that will modernise Ireland’s harassment laws. Speakers at the launch will include Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin;  Margaret Martin, Director of Women’s Aid; and Cllr Martina Genockey, Labour Party Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Council. The Bill…

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…