Minister for Mental Health, Social Care and Primary Care Kathleen Lynch has today (Wednesday, 13th January 2016) turned the sod on the new National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) hospital, which will be built on the site of St. Ita’s Hospital, Portrane.    When completed, this new state of the art facility will replace the…

Labour TD Joe Costello has reiterated his view that insurance companies should be obliged to provide flood cover in areas where remedial defence works have proved to be effective. Speaking today in the Dáil, Deputy Joe Costello stated: “One of the most significant features of the large-scale flooding which occurred in December 2015 and January…

Pathways to Work 2016-2020 will fuel the drive to full employment and the increase in the numbers at work to 2.2 million by 2020. The strategy, devised by the Department of Social Protection, was launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton T.D. and the Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan T.D….

Speaking at the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 Launch I’d like to welcome you all to this launch of the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy. I’d particularly like to thank Diageo for hosting this event. My Department has worked closely with Diageo on their ‘Learning for Life’ programme, which equips young people to build careers in…

Speaking at the launch of Family Carers Ireland I’m delighted to be here this morning to help launch Family Carers Ireland, which brings together two great organisations: the Carers Association and Caring for Carers Ireland. The creation of this new body represents a very positive milestone for Ireland’s carers. It will ensure that, in the…

Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation Seán Sherlock TD, has called for an immediate and full end to the denial of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Syria. Nearly 400,000 Syrians are living in fifteen besieged locations without access to life-saving aid. Reports suggest, for example, that up to…

Labour TD Arthur Spring, warns that the Independent Alliance in government would result in a coalition of chaos for Ireland. Deputy Spring said: “Ireland needs stability and balance with Labour in Government, not a gamble on an uncertain future. “With the Independent Alliance, people are risking voting for the unknown as they have no whip,…

Today’s comments from Fianna Fail Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath that his party would cut USC are barely credible. First, the USC is Fianna Fail’s baby. This tax was one of the first measures that they introduced in response to the economic downturn that they directly caused and was so ruinous for the country. The USC…