Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has joined calls for the government to appoint a dedicated Drugs Minister this week. “The drugs crisis that is affecting every corner of this country needs a dedicated drugs minister to tackle it. “I was proud as Drugs Minister in the last government to be able to pursue new policies…

It is completely unacceptable for Minister Finian McGrath to argue that the smoking ban in public places should be relaxed. Speaking on national radio this morning Finian McGrath stated that pubs and restaurants should be allowed to reintroduce designated smoking areas. I believe as a society we should do our upmost to discourage people from…

Taoiseach Cannot Appoint Bill-Dodging Halligan As Junior Minister – Kelly Taoiseach Enda Kenny must seek a guarantee from John Halligan that he will comply with the law by paying for his water. In the absence of such a guarantee, it would be completely unacceptable for the Taoiseach to appoint Deputy Halligan as a Minister of…

Speaking at the James Connolly Commemoration Arbour Hill, It is a privilege to be here as Labour Party Leader at this event. I’m here too on a more personal level as the grand- daughter of James Burton, railway worker and number 73 on Dr Ann Matthew’s Citizen Army membership roll. This is a poignant and…

The previous Government was faced with a breakdown of public trust in the ability of our policing institutions to properly police themselves and their own members. The Government inherited a system involving a ‘confidential recipient’, to whom Gardaí were supposed to submit concerns about malpractice, that was shown to be manifestly unfit for purpose. It…

Fears expressed by arts practitioners this week, that the arts have been downgraded and sidelined in the new government department configuration, seem to be well founded. Not only has the arts portfolio been further diluted by cramming more and more responsibilities into the same department, but the Programme for Government published this week is sadly…

Labour Party TD Alan Kelly has called on UK citizens living in Ireland to register to vote in the upcoming Brexit referendum. Deputy Kelly commented: “The Brexit referendum has profoundly significant ramifications for Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. The Labour Party firmly believes in the UK remaining in the European Union. “The…

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone must make clear her opposition to Programme for Government plans to link child benefit payments to school attendance and take steps to make sure the proposal is nipped in the bud. Under this plan, children who miss school, usually as a result of complex domestic and family issues, would be…