Labour Spokesperson on Mental Health Kathleen Lynch has welcomed news that funding ring-fenced for mental health has been restored in the 2016 budget allocation. “Under the previous Programme for Government 2011-2016, there was a specific commitment to ring-fence funding of €35 million for the mental health budget every year. “As Minister with responsibility for mental…

Ireland should now recognise the State of Palestine so that the people of the Middle East can move towards a final and comprehensive peace settlement. Late last year in the Oireachtas, Labour in government supported a motion to recognise a Palestinian state, and this symbolic recognition should be adopted at Government level. The Labour Party…

I welcome the fact the government has responded positively to Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin’s call at Leaders Questions on the urgent need to establish a robust task force dedicated to tackling crime and deprivation in Dublin’s North Inner City. Last week myself and Brendan Howlin met with community leaders in the North Inner City…

Ciaran Lynch has been appointed by the Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin as spokesperson on Affordable Housing and the Retail Sector. Mr Lynch was first elected in 2004 to Cork City Council and elected to Dáil Eireann in 2007 and again in 2011. Mr Lynch previously served as Labour spokesperson on Housing and Local Government…

I am delighted to accept the position of spokesperson on Urban Regeneration for the Labour Party. Ireland has changed dramatically over the last fifty years from a largely rural to a largely urban society.  The changes were most pronounced in recent decades.   Urban planning has not kept pace with urban development.  Too often developments are…

As I said when I became Leader of the Labour Party, I am confident about this party’s future, because we have values that are immutable that are not going away any time soon. They have endured 100 years and will endure another 100. And they are needed today more than ever.” Today, it is my…

First case under Industrial Relations Act yields positive results for food processing workers  Labour Senator Ged Nash has welcomed a binding Labour Court recommendation issued last Friday (3rd June) which has provided for significant pay increases and the introduction of a sick pay scheme for workers at Freshways Food Company in Dublin. Senator Nash Commented:…

I spent several hours in Dublin’s North Inner City in recent days with my Labour colleague Joe Costello where I met with members of the local community, community leaders, business owners, educators, service providers and Gardai. The spotlight is shining on the area at this moment, thanks to the recent spate of gang-related gun deaths….