Labour spokesperson Senator Annie Hoey has called on the Minister for Health to urgently enact the promised Safe Access Zones legislation. Welcoming the passage of the bill at second stage, Senator Hoey said that the delay is having a huge impact on people seeking access to reproductive healthcare, as well as health workers, who experience…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has welcomed the decision to rollout antigen testing in schools for close contacts, but questioned the delay in doing so. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said the Department has consistently been dragged into decisions with many school communities feel that they are not being listened to by the Department. Deputy Ó…

Speaking in the Seanad, Labour Senator Annie Hoey reiterated calls to government to ensure that the new National Maternity Hospital is a public hospital built on publicly owned land. Senator Hoey said: “Historically, we have long had church and religious control exercised over our healthcare and education institutions in this country. The government can’t sleepwalk…

Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said the government must implement a three year rent freeze as news emerges that homes for rent reach an all-time low and rental inflation of nearly 7% nationwide Pointing to the recent Residential Tenancies Board report and now the Daft report, Senator Moynihan said it is clear that there is…

Labour transport spokesperson and Dublin Fingal TD Duncan Smith has said it is simply unacceptable for MetroLink to be postponed by another ten years. Calling for Minister Ryan to outline in detail in the Dáil why this decision has been made, Deputy Smith said the MetroLink simply must go ahead as planned this year. Deputy…

Women working for free from today with pay gap of 14.4% With women in effect working for free from today until the end of the year due to Ireland’s gender pay gap of 14.4%, Labour Spokesperson on Equality Ivana Bacik TD, who has campaigned on this issue for many years, has called for strong action…

Labour climate spokesperson Ivana Bacik TD has welcomed the publication of the government’s climate action plan but has expressed concern that it is too future focused and has re-stated the urgent need for the Government to develop a clear pathway and timeline for the implementation of the necessary actions to carry out the plan. Deputy…

Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said that while the rent cap introduced today is welcome, an immediate rent freeze is urgently required to protect already stretched renters. Senator Moynihan said: “The measures announced by government today are welcome but they do not go far enough to protect rents and tackle the unaffordable rents that are…