Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the State needs to increase its social housing targets and not continue to rely so heavily on the private sector to provide social and affordable homes. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The latest figures on Social Housing Delivery Targets show that the majority of new social housing set…

Provision of Objective Sex Education Bill 2018 Dáil Éireann, April 18th 2018 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY The objectives of this Bill are broadly in line with the recommendation on Sex Education of the Oireachtas Committee on the 8th amendment, on which I was the Labour Party representative, and we support it as we have supported the…

Labour Party Employment and Social Affairs spokesperson, Senator Ged Nash, has welcomed the publication of ESRI research commissioned by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) which confirms that the 50 cent an hour National Minimum Wage increase introduced by Labour in 2016 did not result in job losses. Senator Nash said: “When I first established the…

The first issue I wish to raise relates to the complexity of the data protection code. In Ireland we have chosen to retain most of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, although we will in the future apply them only to cases involving national security, defence or international relations. For every other case, we…

Motion on the fodder crisis Dáil Éireann, April 17th 2018 I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this important debate pertaining to the fodder crisis in the Dáil this evening.  I do so on behalf of the Labour Party.  My party leader, Deputy Brendan Howlin, is present as well as Deputy Sean…

Questioning the Minister for Justice today in the Dáil, Labour TD Alan Kelly had asked if the Minister is satisfied that his Department provided full information to and co-operated fully with the O’Higgins commission and the O’Neill report into Garda whistleblower claims; and if he has asked his officials for assurances regarding same Deputy Kelly…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said that the Government should ensure that student accommodation should be included in rent pressure zones. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Today, while the Cabinet approved legislative proposals to strengthen the Residential Tenancies Board, hundreds of students were protesting accommodation hikes in DCU outside the Dáil. “The…

Labour TD Willie Penrose has paid tribute to the late singer Big Tom McBride who has died at the age of 81. Deputy Penrose said: “As someone who has always been very supportive of the Irish music industry, I am really saddened to hear of the passing of Big Tom today, and would like to…