Type: Press

Record breaking number of people living in homelessness Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik has demanded a reintroduction of the eviction ban following the release today of figures showing that a shocking and record breaking number – 12,259 people – are now living in homelessness. Deputy Bacik said: “Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the…

Government needs to get real on supporting working people Supporting ICTU’s call for a €2 increase in the national minimum wage, Labour workers’ rights spokesperson Marie Sherlock said it is vital that the lowest paid are supported in the face of the worst cost of living crisis in forty years in this country. Senator Sherlock…

High level intervention necessary to ensure that workers can be afforded some guarantees as to their personal safety says Labour TD Cork East TD Sean Sherlock has demanded Ministerial intervention with Stryker International Headquarters in the United States following another fire at the Cork plant. Deputy Sherlock said: “The latest incident at Stryker is not…

Speaking in Brussels today, Labour leader Ivana Bacik has urged all EU Member States to move to expel Russian diplomats. Reiterating Labour’s support for Ukraine, Deputy Bacik said it is vital that all those fleeing the war receive a warm European welcome. Deputy Bacik said: “The strong stance shown by the S&D Group in solidarity…

CSO data shows profit-margins rising in middle of cost of living crisis Proper scrutiny of groceries market needed In Leaders’ Questions today, 26th April, Labour finance and enterprise spokesperson Ged Nash TD reiterated his call on the Taoiseach to request of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) a review of grocery price hikes and…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said Government must trust the experts and implement changes proposed in Marie O’Shea’s review of Ireland’s abortion law. Highlighting the urgent need to provide greater geographical coverage of abortion care, Deputy Smith said women who seeks abortion services should be able to do so locally. Deputy Smith said: “Labour welcome…

Labour Spokesperson on Rural Affairs Seán Sherlock TD said the delayed €1.3bn forestry plan is systematic of the Government’s approach to the forestry sector. Deputy Sherlock Said: “Forestry is being beset by bureaucracy and the net result is what we see today – further delays yet again. “Ireland has less than 11% forestry cover, which…

Friends and Comrades; I stand here this evening in Cork to share my vision, a Labour vision, for Ireland’s future. I do so as Leader of a Party that has delivered real change; Change that has transformed people’s lives. Tackled inequalities, made Ireland a better place. But we can do more, we must do more….

Friends, Comrades, It is a joy to be here in Cork City – just half an hour away from where I spent so much of my childhood – in Crookstown and Cloughduv. And it is an honour to be addressing you tonight as Leader of the Labour Party at the 72nd Annual Labour Party Conference….

Labour justice spokesperson, Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin has today (Monday, 13th March) demanded that the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris comes to the negotiating table to settle an escalating dispute over new working time arrangements for Gardaí. Speaking following a Day of Action organised by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), Deputy Ó’Ríordáin said: “It is…

Labour justice spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said today (Friday 9th December) the housing crisis is having a huge impact on people trying to escape domestic violence situations. Commenting on the 9% increase in reported incidents of domestic abuse to Gardaí in 2022, Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “It is encouraging that more people have the…

Labour leader and Dublin Bay South TD Ivana Bacik has welcomed the commitment from government to consider the establishment of a Dublin Bay Authority to protect and promote the biosphere across the city’s bay. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Bacik welcomed government support for the central principle of her Dublin Bay Bill and said that,…

Speaking in response to the forced closure of the Mater Hospital’s Long Covid Clinic, Senator Marie Sherlock has sharply criticised the HSE’s decision to disadvantage Long Covid sufferers living on the northside of Dublin. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Sherlock said: “The closure of the Long Covid Clinic at the Mater Hospital will deprive communities…

Labour justice spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has today (Tuesday 6th December) expressed his horror at the shootings in Dublin last night and reiterated his calls for a cast iron date for a Citizens Assembly on Drugs to be held. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “This is yet another shocking shooting on the streets of our capital…

Labour transport spokesperson Duncan Smith said the increases announced by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) must be reversed. Deputy Smith said in light of the cost of living crisis, and with a lack of clarity as to how roads will be improved as a result of these increases, it is unfair to expect already stretched commuters…

Clerys Quarter must be the benchmark for community benefits Labour spokesperson on workers’ rights, Senator Marie Sherlock said today (Wednesday, 16th November) said that good jobs with decent terms and conditions, as promised by developers taking over the Clery’s building, is one of the key measures needed for the historic street’s regeneration. Senator Sherlock said:…

Labour finance and public expenditure spokesperson, Ged Nash has today (Wednesday, 16th November) sharply criticised the Government for tinkering around the edges of climate action and not getting real on the retrofitting of public buildings. Deputy Nash said: “The idea that the Government can roll out a plan to cut emissions by simply stripping away…

Regulator must move to end scourge of gambling ads Labour sports spokesperson Mark Wall said an overhaul of Irish gambling laws is well overdue. Welcoming Minister Browne’s decision to finally bring the gambling regulation bill to cabinet today, Senator Wall said government has dragged its heels on tackling the gambling industry, despite it impacting almost…

Commenting on the sad passing of Vicky Phelan, Labour TD Alan Kelly said: “My thoughts are with Vicky’s family, particularly Jim, Amelia and Darragh and all the Phelan and Kelly families. I’m also thinking of her good friends Lorraine Walsh, Stephen Teap and John Wall as well as many others. Vicky brought something special to…

Labour Local Area Rep in the Blackrock and Douglas area Peter Horgan has reiterated his call from 2018 for the establishment of a standing committee to deal with long term issues of large scale events in Pairc Uí Chaoimh following reports of poor public transport services after the Munster game. “Currently we have a case by case approach but if we…

Labour health and disability spokesperson Duncan Smith has today (Wednesday, 9th November) demanded real action from the Government to make sure people with long Covid don’t face discrimination, cuts in pay and that specialised long-Covid clinics are set up in communities across the country. Speaking on a Dail motion on long-Covid, Deputy Smith said: “The…

Framework must pivot towards growth of exporting indigenous companies Opposition parties must be briefed on tech job losses Labour enterprise spokesperson Ged Nash has today warned that unless a new national industrial policy framework prioritised the scaling up of indigenous Irish enterprise, Ireland will continue to be exposed to a dangerous and excessive reliance on…

Labour spokesperson for Transport, Duncan Smith has today (Tuesday 8th November) described the fines imposed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on Go Ahead and Dublin as eye-watering and said the fines underscore systemic failures across the public transport system. In response to questioning from Deputy Smith at the Oireachtas Transport Committee the NTA confirmed…

Prospect of economic crunch demands robust planning by Government Labour spokesperson on workers rights Marie Sherlock said protecting work and livelihoods must be at the core of government strategy this winter. With recent announcements by major employers, coupled with today’s significant downward assessment by Ibec on the Irish economy next year, many people will be…