Type: Press
Everyone deserves affordable, quality childcare
Labour Spokesperson on Children Seán Sherlock, TD outlines Labour’s ambitious plan for affordable childcare for all, as part of Labour’s alternative budget for 2019. Measures include halving the cost of childcare, guaranteeing living wages for childcare workers and increasing paternity leave. Speaking about the plan today; “Our State has never invested enough in supporting families…
Read more »The choice in Budget 2019 is a social recovery or tax cuts
Speaking today at the launch of Labour’s alternative proposals for Budget 2019, Building A New Republic, Party Leader Brendan Howlin spoke about the need for a full social recovery to follow the economic recovery. Deputy Howlin said: “Labour’s message is simple: we cannot talk about Ireland’s economy having fully recovered until every person and family…
Read more »Budget 2019 must support families and a social recovery
Labour Finance spokesperson Joan Burton TD, speaking at the launch of Labour’s alternative budget proposals for 2019 has said the Government must deliver a social recovery, and support families by investing in public services, rather than tax cuts. As part of a fully costed proposal, Labour has proposed €2.2bn in expenditure measures, alongside an additional…
Read more »Sherlock calls for Minister to address Dáil on Broadband
“There’s a pattern emerging with this Minister who seems to believe it’s perfectly acceptable to give private interests preferred insight in private engagements. “Minister Naughten needs to be reminded that he is a Minister for all the citizens of the state and not those he has preferred after overseeing a failed public tendering process, which…
Read more »The housing crisis is geting more complex, more hopeless and more devastating
Labour TD Brendan Ryan was today speaking in Dáil Éireann in support of the cross-party motion to enact emergency measures aimed at addressing homelessness. This followed the large ‘Raise the Roof’ housing demonstration outside Leinster House. Deputy Ryan said: “Minister, The housing crisis is getting worse. It’s getting more complex, more hopeless and more devastating…
Read more »Sale of Luggala Estate a once in a generation opportunity for the state
Labour spokesperson on the Arts, Joan Burton TD, has called on Minister Madigan to take action and bring the Luggala Estate into public ownership. Speaking today Deputy Burton said: “Following the passing of Garech de Brún earlier this year, the 4000-acre Luggala Estate has come onto the market. Under the stewardship of the de Brún…
Read more »Bacik calls for Government to adopt Labour’s gender pay gap bill
Senator Ivana Bacik will today in the Seanad be leading for the Labour Senators in presenting the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017 for Report Stage. This Bill has already passed Second Stage in the Seanad with cross-party support on 24th May 2017, and Seanad Committee Stage on 25th…
Read more »Admissions to Schools law serves the elite
Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018 which commenced today gives with one hand and takes with another in terms of equality. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “While it is welcome that religion will no longer be a barrier when it comes to schools admissions. It is…
Read more »Minister Ross needs to clear up ambiguity over Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company costs
Labour Party General Elections candidates for Dún Laoghaire and Dublin Rathdown, Councillor Deirdre Kingston and Councillor Lettie McCarthy, have expressed their concern at Minister Shane Ross’ plans to transfer the ownership of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Councillor Kingston said: “This week in the Dáil, Minster of State John…
Read more »For the city to grow and become more accessible Galway City Ring Road is an absolute necessity. – McNelis
Mayor of Galway Cllr Niall McNelis has welcomed today’s Cabinet announcement of €600 million for the development of the Galway City Ring Road. Speaking today Mayor McNelis said: “This is a very welcome development for Galway City. We have been waiting for this for nearly two decades now. Certainly, as long as I have been…
Read more »Defence has become an afterthought for the Taoiseach – Ryan
Labour spokesperson for Defence, Brendan Ryan TD, has called on the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence Leo Varadkar to share the pending report into the inability of two Irish naval ships to launch this morning. Commenting today Deputy Ryan said: “As Minister for Defence, An Taoiseach should be able to answer the most basic of questions…
Read more »HIQA have to be held accountable for lack of referrals of abuse allegations
Labour Health Spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has called on Ministers Harris and McGrath to investigate HIQA’s handling of abuse allegations. Commenting today Deputy Kelly said: “HIQA have serious questions to answer on the rates of referrals they make to An Garda Síochána and other agencies when they receive allegations of abuse. “With 4,500 complaints made…
Read more »Questions need to be answered over wasteful Health spend
Labour Party Health spokesperson and Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD has said serious questions need to be answered about wasteful spend in the Department of Health. Commenting on the report of the Controller and Auditor General into the Department of Health, Deputy Kelly said: “Frankly, I am appalled at the…
Read more »“;Yet again this government has failed to deliver on housing.
Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has criticised Housing Minister and his cabinet colleagues for the failure to get a promised ‘fast-track’ housing plan off the ground in Poolbeg. Commenting Senator Humphreys said: “Yet again this government has failed to deliver on housing. Yet again a plan which was hailed as a new departure has failed to…
Read more »Lessons around proper governance have not been learned in Scouting Ireland
Labour Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs has welcomed Minister for Children’s decision to halt state funding of Scouting Ireland while the current board remains in place. Commenting today Deputy Sherlock said: “The minister has made the right decision. Clearly, lessons around proper governance have not been learned within the upper echelons of Scouting Ireland. “Recent Board decisions left…
Read more »Time to deal with the stark reality that faces so many tenants
Labour Cllr Rebecca Moynihan has today called on Fine Gael to establish a rent registry to ensure new tenants are not victims of price gouging. Cllr. Moynihan said: “Yet again today, we another report highlighting spiraling rates of rent. Rents in urban areas are out of control with the average rent in Dublin €1,600 per…
Read more »Banker Pay Cap must stay in place
Labour Finance spokesperson Joan Burton raised with the Minister for Finance today his plans to commission a report on bankers pay and bonuses as we approach the 10 year anniversary of the blanket bank guarantee. Deputy Burton said: “Saturday 29th September will mark the 10 year anniversary of the disastrous blanket bank guarantee that only…
Read more »Time to bring back Town Councils
Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD has moved a bill today to bring back town councils, as the Dáil will later today debate the Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill in private members time. Deputy Howlin said: “Labour will today in the Dáil put forward a bill that provides a clear pathway for the…
Read more »Terrible assaults emphasise the need for educational campaigns surrounding consent.
Labour spokesperson on Justice, and TD for Cork East, Seán Sherlock has called on Minister Mitchell O’Connor to lay out a timeline for the delivery of promised compulsory consent classes in Irish Universities. This call follows reporting today of three incidents of rape of students in Cork in recent weeks. Commenting today Deputy Sherlock said:…
Read more »No clarity on level of Christmas Bonus from Minister
Labour spokesperson on Social Protection Ged Nash has called on Minister Regina Doherty to clarify immediately the level of Christmas Bonus that will be paid to those in receipt of social welfare payments in December. Senator Nash said: “In her written opening statement to the Oireachtas Committee today the Minister for Social Protection said ‘There…
Read more »Proposal on teacher pay falls short of pay equity
Labour Party spokesperson on Education Aodhan Ó Ríordáin has criticised the government for their proposal on public sector pay. Commenting today Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The proposal put forward by government falls significantly short of creating pay equity for teachers and other public sector workers. “Their plan would mean pay increases for some 58% of…
Read more »Howlin engages with British Labour on Irish Brexit concerns
Speaking after the first day of his visit to the British Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Irish Labour Party spoke about his hope that the British Labour Party would champion Ireland’s interests during the current negotiations on Brexit. Deputy Howlin said: “Other than the United Kingdom, no country will…
Read more »Second Referendum offers chance to limit damage
Speaking in advance of his three-day visit to the British Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Irish Labour Party spoke about his hope for a second referendum on the UK’s relationship with the Europen Union. Deputy Howlin said “I warmly welcome statements by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and Deputy Leader,…
Read more »Labour Party optimistic, following Minister’s commitments on 24/7 cardiac care for the South East
Labour Party public representatives in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford have been told by party leader Brendan Howlin that 24 hour, seven days a week Cardiology Cath Lab for the region based at University Hospital (UHW) is one step closer if assurances stated by the Minister for Health can be acted on…
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