Type: Press

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD has called on Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney to raise the issue of children being separated from their parents by US immigration authorities in Texas, directly with the US Secretary of State. Since April this year over 2000 children have been separated from their families. Deputy Howlin said:…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin, responding to reported remarks by the Taoiseach during the week that the “tectonic plates” in Northern Ireland are shifting, has repeated his call for a Forum, involving political and civic society, to discuss how nationalism could facilitate an agreed Ireland in the event of a border poll in favour of…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has criticised the Government’s failure to appoint an Executive Director to oversee the implantation of Sláintecare. Deputy Kelly said: “Almost 18 months after first talking about it, the Government has failed to appoint anyone to the position of Executive Director in the SlainteCare Implementation office. “It is over…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has questioned why Sinn Féin have failed to table a motion of no confidence in the Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy in their private members time next Wednesday following weeks of speculation and game playing. Senator Humphreys said: “If Sinn Féin believe the Minister of Housing and the policies being pursed by…

Commenting on the findings of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Housing survey, Labour Party Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan has said that the Government urgently needs to link rent to the cost of living and extend the rent pressure zones nationwide. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The findings of the ICTU survey are stark and paint a…

Speaking at the Tom Johnson Summer School, in Limerick, the Chairperson of the Labour Party, Jack O Connor, has called for a Referendum to enshrine the Right to Representation at Work in the Constitution. He also highlighted the dramatic co – relation between, precarious low- quality employment and reliance on rented accommodation, the cost of…

Speaking ahead of the Tom Johnson Summer School, Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD has said it is clear the Government are intent on bluffing their way to the summer recess, rather than offer solutions. Deputy Howlin said: “On Thursday, I spent the day in London. The situation there is perilous. The possibility is growing…

Labour Youth has welcomed the launch of The Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland’s Right to Work Campaign in Liberty Hall. Labour Youth Chairperson, Chloe Manahan said: “MASI has the full solidarity and support of Labour Youth in their campaign to achieve the right to work for international protection applicants and the broader campaign to end…

A Labour Party motion apologising to men who were convicted of engaging in consensual same-sex sexual acts prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in June 1993 has received government backing. The historic motion will be debated in the Dáil & Seanad next Tuesday evening, in advance of the 25th anniversary of decriminalisation on the 24th…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said that the Government have made little movement when it comes to housing in the year since Leo Varadkar was elected Taoiseach. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Last June, members of the Opposition were willing to give the Taoiseach and the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, a blank slate…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD will visit London on Thursday 14th June to meet with prominent members of the UK Labour Party and Trade Union movement, including the Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Sir Keir Starmer MP; the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Tony Lloyd MP and Frances O’Grady,…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called on the Government to commit to increased funding in higher education in Budget 2019. This comes as the Coalition for Publicly-Funded Higher Education have published opinion poll research that shows that 91% of people want to see increased public investment in higher education. Senator Ó Ríordáin…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has published a new bill to amend the Civil Liability Act so that a family that loses an unborn child due to medical negligence is entitled to seek compensation for mental distress. Deputy Kelly was joined at the launch of the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2018 by the Underwood…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has welcomed a concession extracted from Theresa May’s government that makes a no deal Brexit less likely. Deputy Howlin said: “While Dominic Grieve’s amendment was not put today to empower the Westminster Parliament to direct the Government in the event of a no deal Brexit, the May government has been…

Speaking at the Dublin Rathdown Labour Party selection convention for Cllr Lettie McCarthy, Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has said that the chaotic Government policy on public transport is due to the lacklustre performance of Minister Shane Ross who is failing to deliver transport solutions for Dublin. Deputy Howlin said: “Across Dublin and Ireland…

Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Brendan Ryan TD, has today called on the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, to reassess the pricing for commuters using the Port Tunnel as the current peak time pricing unfairly impacts people from North County Dublin. Deputy Ryan said: “Living in the here and now, commuters from North County…

Labour spokesperson on Health Alan Kelly has expressed grave concerns about the first report from the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme, saying it is taking too long, and has not addressed the terms of reference, and that responsibility rests with the Minister and Government in ensuring the women affected get answers quickly. Deputy…

Reacting to the publication of some of the details for the Bus Connects programme, Labour spokesperson on Transport, Senator Kevin Humphreys said that residents impacted by the plans must be fully consulted and engaged with. He also said that the needs of cyclists must be at the heart of the proposals. Senator Humphreys said: “Congestion…

The Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, will be available to speak to reporters this morning at 11.00am, Tuesday 12th June, on the Leinster House plinth about Brexit and other issues of the day. What: Doorstep with Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin Where: Leinster House Plinth When: 11.00am, Tuesday 12th June  

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said the Government must do more to tackle rising student accommodation rents. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Today, we have read reports that there has been a rise in the numbers of students commuting to college as rents are becoming unaffordable in many college cities and towns….

Speaking on the centenary of Lá na mBan, Labour spokesperson on Equality, and representative in Dún Laoghaire, Cllr Deirdre Kingston has echoed calls for gender quotas for the upcoming local elections but has also called on all parties to commit that at least 40% of Ministers in the next Government will be women. Cllr Kingston…

Labour Party Representative in Cork city, Peter Horgan has called on Minister Shane Ross to get his head out of justice and back into the Department of Transport and deal with traffic congestion crippling cities like Cork. Mr Horgan said: “We now know that 30 million cars travelled on the south Link road in Cork…

Two separate fatal incidents at DART stations on the Northside has led to calls from Senator Aodhán O Riordáin for an urgent response from authorities.  Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “In the past month there have been two fatalities at Howth Junction and Harmonstown DART stations. These incidents have placed focus again on the severe mental…

Labour spokesperson on Urban Regeneration, Joe Costello has said the latest proposal by Dublin City Council to sell off valuable land banks currently used as Council depots in the heart of the City is totally unacceptable in the midst of a housing crisis. Mr Costello, Labour representative in Dublin Central said: “The plan by Dublin…