Labour Leader Brendan Howlin has called on the Revenue Commissioners to defer the implementation of a 23% increase on food supplements, planned for March 1st until a full review of the decision is carried out.  Deputy Howlin said: “This VAT increase is a tax on making a healthy life choice. There are hundreds of thousands of people across the…

Labour Deputy for Longford Westmeath, has warmly welcomed the response by the Department of Education and Skills, to his question to the Minister on the funding required to effect major infrastructure and refurbishment, works at St. Columba College, Kilucan, which has a current enrolment of 190 students. Deputy Penrose said:  “I have visited the school…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has said that news that up to 6,000 women will need to have their smears rechecked will be a worrying development for many women. Deputy Kelly said: “Confirmation from the HSE that 6,000 women will have to get their CervicalCheck tests carried out again will be a cause…

Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton has published a proposed new law that would provide legal certainty for those whose adoptions were illegally registered, and she was joined at the launch by some of those affected by this practise. Deputy Burton said: “In May last year we learned of 126 cases involving the illegal…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, speaking in the Dáil on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, called it a missed opportunity to make real change to the insecurity facing so many people in the private rental sector. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “It could have ended the planned sale of the property as a reason to…

Reacting to results of a survey into staff recruitment by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland Labour Party education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the government to take measures to make teaching an attractive option for graduates of key subjects. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Results of a survey by the TUI shows that there…

Labour Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Deputy Willie Penrose, has again raised the issue of the need for greater IDA investment in Westmeath.  Deputy Penrose said: “I have once again raised the issue of IDA investment with the Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation. While there have been welcome increases in the rate of employment across…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has welcomed news that costs associated with the drug Pembro for cervical cancer patients will now be funded by the State. Deputy Kelly said: “I am delighted that Minister Harris has finally sanctioned that the State will foot the bill for cervical cancer patients who are able to…