Type: Press

Following the report on Morning Ireland on the number of expectant and new mothers living in emergency accommodation with their children, Labour spokesperson of Housing Jan O’Sullivan has said that the scandal must be urgently addressed, and added that Labour’s Housing (Homeless Families) legislation should be implemented as a priority. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “As we…

Labour spokesperson on Disability and representative in Cork North Central, Kathleen Lynch, has called for the Government to swiftly progress the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to give full legal effect to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was ratified in the Dáil last night. Ms. Lynch said: “I welcome the…

Questioning the Taoiseach at Leader’s Questions in the Dáil today, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has called for a clear statement of Ireland’s view that the path chosen by the UK will result in a hard border on the island of Ireland without a commitment to a customs union and the application of single market…

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Labour spokesperson on Equality and representative for Dún Laoghaire, Cllr Deirdre Kingston, has said that while improvements have been made, Ireland still has some way to go to achieving full equality between women and men. Cllr Kingston said: “I think anyone would agree that the Ireland of today…

Labour representative on the Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has welcomed the clarity provided by the Supreme Court in its ruling regarding the constitutional rights of the unborn in Limerick today. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “I welcome this very clear and unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court today. “The decision…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has said the lifting of employment restrictions in the restaurant industry shouldn’t be used to create a race to the bottom in employment standards across the sector. It follows calls this week from the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) to lift restrictions on the hiring of chefs from outside the EU…

Labour Party leader and Wexford TD Brendan Howlin has said the omission of investment in Rosslare Europort in the National Plan has to be reversed. Deputy Howlin raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dáil today. Deputy Howlin commented: “The lack of investment for Rosslare Europort in the Government’s strategy 2040 is astonishing. “In…

Speaking ahead of a Green Party motion on the Cost of Rental Public Housing this evening, Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called on the Government to move quickly to use the 700 publicly owned sites already identified around the country for social and affordable housing. The Labour Party will support tonight’s motion, but…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has repeated his call for the Taoiseach’s vanity project, the Strategic Communications Unit to be disbanded. This follows the publication of internal Government correspondence today by the Sunday Business Post. Deputy Howlin said: “There are a number of things that arise from today’s story that confirm the Taoiseach is…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin, has called on the Taoiseach to clarify remarks pertaining to his position on Brexit made by the British Prime Minister, Teresa May, in her speech on Brexit yesterday. Deputy Hoqlin said: “Specifically, Mrs May indicated that she and the Taoiseach agreed that both countries, Ireland and the United Kingdom, would…

Labour Party representative for Dublin South-West and Councillor for Tallaght South, Martina Genockey has condemned the events that have taken place in Tallaght this evening resulting in the robbery and destruction of at least one supermarket in the area. Councillor Genockey said: “I absolutely condemn the behaviour of those who looted the Centra, Topaz and…

After the review launched by the Taoiseach into his own Strategic Communications Unit, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has called on him to now disband the discredited unit; to cease the use of public money for partisan and unethical advertisements with the sole promotion of his Government; and to support measures to ensure the Dáil…

Labour representative for Dublin Central, Joe Costello has criticised the failure of the Department of Social Protection to inform citizens of where to recieve their social weflare payments today. Mr Costello said: “The Department of Social Protection are very remiss in closing their Intreo offices in central Dublin from Wednesday the 28th February and not…

#EndBogusSelfEmployment Labour Youth has welcomed the progress yesterday in the Seanad where Senator Ged Nash’s proposed law to tackle Bogus Self Employment passed to committee stage. Labour Youth Chair Chloe Manahan said “The condemnation of Bogus Self-Employment is not a conclusion it is difficult to arrive at. It’s obvious that employersmisrepresent their workers’ status as…

Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Department of Education to make a speedy response to latest weather warnings. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The hands-off approach taken by the Department of Education in relation to school closures is showing a stunning lack of leadership. “School principals are contacting me all day…

Labour spokesperson on Rural and Community Affairs, Willie Penrose TD, has welcomed confirmation from the Social Protection Minister that the fuel allowance will be doubled this week due to the weather. Deputy Penrose said: “This is welcome news from Minister Doherty that the fuel allowance will be doubled this week as the freezing weather conditions…

Labour spokesperson on Transport Senator Kevin Humphreys has paid tribute to Dublin Bus drivers and other public transport workers who are keeping the city moving during the snowy conditions. Senator Humphreys said: “As Dublin is hit with the snowy conditions from the so-called Beast from the East, credit must go to Dublin Bus drivers and…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin has today written to Leaders and groups in Dáil Éireann seeking their support and input on a proposed change to Dáil committee rules to ensure TDs would pre-approve any public relations and communications spend by Government Departments. The proposed motion would be an instruction to select committees under the Dáil’s…

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the Government is not doing enough to address the homelessness crisis, with the latest official figures showing a rise in the number of homeless people accessing emergency accommodation in January. The figures from the Department of Housing show there were more adults, families and children homeless last…

Labour spokesperson on Rural and Community Affairs, Willie Penrose TD, has said older people in rural communities need assurances that they can heat their homes for the duration of the cold snap without facing a huge bill, and called for the fuel allowance to be doubled this week. Deputy Penrose said: “Those in rural and…

Labour spokesperson on Social Protection, Senator Ged Nash, has called for the fuel allowance to be doubled for older people this week in light of the forecast snow and freezing temperatures. Senator Nash said: “With the cold snap set to take hold around the country in the coming days, there is a real concern that…

I note with interest the outcome of the case of Kehoe Vs RTE. I would like to express my disappointment that a specific level of responsibility has been apportioned to me.  I am at loss to understand why I have been referred to in the judgement.   I was not a party to the case;…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has welcomed the announcement today by Jeremy Corbyn, that the UK Labour Party would seek a permanent Customs Union with the EU, and called again for Sinn Féin MPs to consider voting in Westminster on the critical amendment when the time comes. Deputy Howlin said: “The move today by UK…

Labour spokesperson on Finance, Joan Burton TD has called on PTSB, given its refusal to attend the Oireachtas Finance Committee, to provide more information on the mortgages it proposes to sell off, including a breakdown of how many have engaged, how many are now ‘performing’ split mortgages, and a breakdown of when other loan holders…