I welcome the publication of today’s GDP growth figures for 2015. Even when we strip away the effect of companies relocating assets to Ireland, the economic growth figures are stratospheric. Labour in government delivered national economic recovery and unprecedented growth. In introducing new collective bargaining laws, re-establishing wage setting mechanisms such as Registered Employment Agreement…

Labour Youth National Chairperson Grace Williams has called on Fianna Fáil to rule out supporting the introduction of student loans. Williams commented: “Fianna Fáil Education and Skills Spokesperson Thomas Byrne said on Morning Ireland his party are open to the idea of introducing student loans.  “This is a deeply regressive and ill thought out position….

Earlier today the Living Wage Technical Group reported that the living wage rate for 2016 is €11.50. I am calling on the government to act on this recommendation and to set out a roadmap to introduce a living wage to Ireland.  The introduction of a living wage in London has been effective in improving working…

Labour Youth has reiterated its call for state funded higher education following the publication of the Cassells Report today presenting options for funding higher education.  Labour Youth National Chairperson Grace Williams commented: “We welcome the inclusion of publicly funded higher education as an option within the Cassells Report. However, it is crucial that this option…

The funding of third level education is a critical issue and there is no doubt that in the wake of the economic crash in 2008 and the fiscal crisis that it brought about, third level education was among those sectors worst hit. However, I’m not sure that the headline recommendations contained in the Cassells Report,…

“Plan is designed to dismantle publicly funded emergency care” states Willie Penrose TD. The proposals emanating from an expert group and being submitted to the Department of Health and the HSE to close nine A&E units across the country are dangerous and could put lives at risk. The proposition stymied by the last government but…

Lacey elected first labour cathaoirleach of eastern and midlands regional assembly At the Annual General Meeting of the  Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly on Friday 8th July former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey was elected as the first ever Labour Party Cathaoirleach of the Regional Assembly. The Assembly established under the Local…

I would like to welcome the positive response to calls that I made last week for the provisions of the Paternity Leave legislation that is currently in the Oireachtas, to be extended to expectant families who are due to give birth in September. In government, Labour provided for two weeks paid paternity leave for the…