Type: Press

On the centenary of the anti-conscription strike of 1918, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD has highlighted the historic significance of the events that occurred a century ago today that led to thousands of lives being saved, and showed the power of organised labour to effect change. Deputy Howlin said: “During World War 1, compulsory…

Speaking in advance of her public meeting on repealing the 8th amendment on Monday night in Castleknock, former Tánaiste and Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton TD has called for care, compassion and choice to be the watchwords of Ireland’s approach to women’s health. Deputy Burton said: “We need to repeal the 8th amendment…

Government’s complete disregard of today’s Centenary of the Anti-Conscription Strike further evidence of drift from Irelands traditional policy of positive neutrality. Speaking at a Labour Party event to mark today’s Centenary of the Anti -Conscription Strike, in Wicklow this evening, Labour Party Chairperson and recently selected Dáil Candidate for Wicklow Jack O‘Connor accused the Government…

Labour Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said parents shouldn’t be forced to pick up the tab for Government cutbacks when it comes to educating their children. It comes as the Catholic Primary Schools Managers’ Association has called for the capitation grant to be restored to €200 per pupil. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Parents…

Speaking after statements and interviews from An Post in recent days, Labour spokesperson on Urban Regeneration, Joe Costello said: “There are too many contradictions in the policy statements emanating from An Post. T”he Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten briefed Cabinet last week that 2,000 jobs would have to go in An Post out of a…

Labour Party TD for Limerick City, Jan O’Sullivan has referred the removal of Labour Party posters on the Referendum to Repeal the Eighth to the Gardaí in Limerick City. This comes as Deputy O’Sullivan obtained video evidence of the posters being removed from the Punches Cross area of Limerick City. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “This is…

Labour Party Justice Spokesperson Seán Sherlock has reiterated that the Labour Party supports, and will seek to set the digital age of consent at 16, and will bring forward amendments to achieve that at the Dáil Committee stage of the General Data Protection Regulation Bill. Deputy Sherlock said: “The recent controversies over the use of…

Ahead of tomorrow’s painting over of the Maser ‘Repeal the Eighth’ mural, Labour spokesperson on Community Arts and Dublin City Councillor, Rebecca Moynihan, has questioned the legal basis for the removal of the mural. This comes as the Charities Regulator informed the Project Arts Centre that they were in breach of the Charities Act 2009,…

Brendan Howlin warns against complacency. On the recommendation of Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD, Cllr Jane Horgan Jones was appointed as the Director of Elections for the Referendum campaign to repeal the 8th amendment at a meeting of the Party’s Executive Board in Dublin today. Cllr Horgan Jones has been chairing the Party’s campaign…

Labour Party spokesperson on Community Arts, Councillor Rebecca Moynihan, has said that the removal of the Maser Repeal the 8th mural at the Project Arts Centre is an affront to democracy and freedom of expression. Councillor Moynihan said: “The news today that the Maser Repeal the 8th mural is to be painted over on Monday…

Labour Party spokesperson on Employment and Workers’ Rights, Senator Ged Nash, has welcomed the Irish Congress of Trade Unions highlighting how important repealing the eighth amendment is for working people in Ireland. Senator Nash said: “The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has had a long history in opposing the eighth amendment, having initially opposed it’s…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the State needs to increase its social housing targets and not continue to rely so heavily on the private sector to provide social and affordable homes. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The latest figures on Social Housing Delivery Targets show that the majority of new social housing set…

Labour Party Employment and Social Affairs spokesperson, Senator Ged Nash, has welcomed the publication of ESRI research commissioned by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) which confirms that the 50 cent an hour National Minimum Wage increase introduced by Labour in 2016 did not result in job losses. Senator Nash said: “When I first established the…

Questioning the Minister for Justice today in the Dáil, Labour TD Alan Kelly had asked if the Minister is satisfied that his Department provided full information to and co-operated fully with the O’Higgins commission and the O’Neill report into Garda whistleblower claims; and if he has asked his officials for assurances regarding same Deputy Kelly…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said that the Government should ensure that student accommodation should be included in rent pressure zones. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Today, while the Cabinet approved legislative proposals to strengthen the Residential Tenancies Board, hundreds of students were protesting accommodation hikes in DCU outside the Dáil. “The…

Labour TD Willie Penrose has paid tribute to the late singer Big Tom McBride who has died at the age of 81. Deputy Penrose said: “As someone who has always been very supportive of the Irish music industry, I am really saddened to hear of the passing of Big Tom today, and would like to…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan, has said reports of Government legislation to strengthen the rights of tenants are positive, but that the devil will be in the detail of the plans. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “I am glad to see that the Government has finally woken up to the realisation that strengthening security of tenure…

Labour Party spokesperson on Disability, Kathleen Lynch, has welcomed Inclusion Ireland joining the Together for Yes civil society group to repeal the eighth amendment. Ms Lynch commented: “It is welcome news that Inclusion Ireland have joined the Together for Yes campaign. The voices of people with disabilities need to be heard over the next five…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the Government cannot rely on the private sector to provide homes that are genuinely affordable for people on normal incomes. It comes as new figures in today’s Irish Independent show that one in four workers is now being priced out of buying a home in the…

Commenting on today’s new schools announcement, Labour spokesperson on Education, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said: “While welcoming today’s announcement of 42 new schools, some of which will benefit the communities in Dublin Bay North, questions remain about the hundreds of schools around the country who are actively seeking badly needed refurbishments. “Fianna Fáil’s apparent concern…

Labour Finance spokesperson, Joan Burton TD, has called on the Minister for Education to explain whether plans for new schools will impact existing school refurbishment projects, and whether extra capital has been provided to fund the new builds. Deputy Burton commented: “While welcoming the objective of today’s announcement- the provision of new schools that are…

Labour Senator Ged Nash has accused the government of tolerating high levels of bogus self-employment which he says represents nothing but the perpetration of a mass fraud on the State. The Labour Party spokesperson on Employment Affairs & Social Protection was speaking to delegates at the Forsa trade union Services & Enterprise division conference taking…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said that the Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, needs to rule out student loan schemes. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The Government has been sitting on the report carried out by Peter Cassells into the future of higher education funding for months now. Three options were laid…

Labour Party representative for Dublin Bay North, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has warned that An Bord Pleanála has put many playing pitches across the country in danger with their recent granting of planning permission to build homes on St.Anne’s Park.  Senator Ó Riordáin said: “The decision of An Bord Pleanála on April 3rd, to grant…