CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Ceann Comhairle, Tonight, in simple terms, we are debating whether education really matters. Extraordinarily, a week after the Budget, the Government still can’t confirm what date next year social welfare increases will come into force. Lest people think this is a minor detail, each additional week costs €7m or so, according to…

Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin, along with Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Jan O’Sullivan, will be available to speak to the media tomorrow on the plinth at Leinster House, before the party formally introduces its Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is designed to tackle rogue pregnancy agencies in Ireland. Date:…

Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly, has called on the Government to consider measures to allow private hospital facilities to be used by the State this winter in the event of a flu epidemic. It’s after the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, under questioning from Deputy Kelly in the Dáil, agreed it was a good…

Labour Education Spokesperson Joan Burton TD and Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD will be available to speak to reporters at 3pm today, Tuesday 18th October on the Leinster House plinth in advance of our private members motion on Education funding and Budget 2017 from 8pm tonight. Motion attached here. Date: Tuesday 18th October 2016Time: 3pmLocation: The Plinth, Leinster…

Labour Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Jan O’Sullivan TD, says the issues raised in a HIQA report on foster care services in the Midlands published today, need to be addressed. During inspections carried out in May, HIQA found that none of the 26 standards assessed were met; 20 needed improvement, with significant risks identified…

I was saddened to hear of the sudden death of Munster Head Coach, Anthony Foley. My thoughts first and foremost are with his wife Olive and his family. Anthony was an iconic figure in Munster and Irish rugby. His loss is tragic to Munster and Irish rugby fans across all the world. The vigour Anthony…

On Tuesday 18th October, the Labour Party will table a motion during Dáil private members time on Tuesday evening to seek to address the lack of funding committed to education in Budget 2017. The motion particularly focusses on reducing class sizes, tackling school costs for parents, funding higher education, and the roll out of new…

A new survey has found that 74 per cent of Dubliners polled would favour a directly elected mayor of the city, if a referendum was held. More than 500 people living across Dublin, and aged 18 and over, were interviewed by polling company Ireland Thinks in September. The research found that support for a directly…