Type: Press

Labour spokesperson on Equality and General Election candidate in Dun Laoghaire, Cllr Deirdre Kingston, has said that the gender pay gaps revealed at two major British banks over the past week highlights the need for similar gender pay gap legislation in Ireland. Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland are the first banks to publish…

Labour spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Seán Sherlock TD, has called for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone to take action to address several major non-compliance issues in child protection and welfare services highlighted by HIQA in Carlow/ Kilkenny and South Tipperary. The inspection found five standards of major non-compliance out…

Vice Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD has called on the Department of the Taoiseach to come before the Public Accounts Committee to face questioning on the spending by the Strategic Communications Unit on the advertisement of the Ireland 2040 project. Deputy Kelly said: “Following advertisements in cinemas, national newspapers and regional…

As the UK Labour Party prepares to commit to continued participation in a customs union with the EU, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has highlighted that the vote in Westminister could hinge on the absent votes of Sinn Féin MPs that could determine our island’s future, and called on them to use their vote. Deputy…

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to lead another protest rally against President Donald Trump and his Irish-American support in the Riverside Church, New York City on March 16th in aid of the American Civil Liberties Union. This follows last year’s event which attracted over 1,500 people to the iconic Manhattan venue inspired by Senator Ó…

Labour spokesperson on Tourism Cllr Niall McNelis has welcomed the opening tonight of the Picture Palace in Galway, saying thenew cultural infrastructure will be a great boost to the west of Ireland and for the city as it prepares to celebrate being European Capital of Culture in 2020. Cllr McNelis said: “The Picture Palace opens…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has criticised the Government and HSE for failing to tackle the trolley crisis in our hospitals. Deputy Kelly said: “Six weeks after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recorded 677 patients on trolleys, it is scandalous that we are still seeing trolley watch figures as high as 621….

Labour Transport spokesperson Senator Kevin Humphreys has called for the Minister for Transport to bring together all public transport stakeholders in Dublin in a transport summit to rectify current traffic problems in the city centre and overcrowding issues on the Luas green line in particular. Senator Humphreys said: “The Transport Minister was more than happy…

Labour spokesperson on Urban regeneration Joe Costello has described the latest changes to the Metro North link as a cynical exercise that highlights how little extra investment is being provided for Dublin city in the Ireland 2040 plan. Mr Costello said: “Many of the public transport plans for Dublin outlined in the National Planning Framework…

Labour Finance spokesperson, Joan Burton TD, has called on the Independent Alliance to outline where they stand on the proposals by PTSB and other banks to sell thousands of mortgage loans to vulture funds following the failure of their Ministers to object to the announcement at Cabinet last week. The Independent Alliance has previously promoted…

Labour TD Seán Sherlock has called on the Government to swiftly progress Labour legislation through the Dáil to ban the use of microbeads and other micro-plastics in cosmetic and personal products. It comes as new research by NUIG has highlighted the damage caused by microplastics to fish in the Atlantic, with 73% of deep water…

Labour Party Education spokesperson Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has accused the Minister for Education of sending mixed messages when it comes to non-denominational education. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The Minister for Education’s latest announcement that alternative subjects should be offered to those who do not want to participate in religion classes in schools is welcome….

Speaking to the Labour Party’s Central Council, Party Leader Brendan Howlin said that Fine Gael’s investment plan is not radical enough and that Labour would propose to significantly exceed the ‘Ireland 2040’ target of €91 billion in public spending over the next decade by scrapping the rainy day fund and limiting future tax cuts, providing…

Following the collapse of talks to reestablish the Northern Ireland executive and the likelihood of British direct rule, Labour LGBT in the Republic of Ireland has written to its Sister Party Groups SDLP LGBT+ and LGBT Labour UK to formally support the campaign for the UK parliament in Westminster to introduce marriage equality in Northern…

Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has welcomed the confirmation by the HSE that Merchants Quay Project CLG is the preferred bidder to operate a medically supervised injecting facility but highlighted that there is still some distance to go before a pilot facility opens. Sen. Ó Ríordáin said: “For over three years I have campaigned to…

Did the Government learn nothing from Hubs and Spokes of the last strategy? Commenting on the launch of the National Planning Framework, Labour spokesperson on Housing and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan TD, said: “National Planning Strategies are hugely important for any country. They shape the future and determine where money is spent for the overall…

Labour Finance spokesperson, Joan Burton TD, has called on the Minister for Finance to step in to protect vulnerable homeowners in the wake of PTSB’s plans to sell off up to €4bn of non-performing loans. Deputy Burton said: “Many of the thousands of mortgage holders with banks like PTSB will be extremely worried this weekend…

Speaking at a public meeting on in Liberty Hall, Joe Costello, Spokesperson on Urban Regeneration said “The Government’s  National Planning Framework is already in tatters before it has even been launched.” “A colossal €115 billion of tax payers’ money is to be spent by the Government over the next ten years on a set of…

Labour Party leader and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to make a statement outlining the campaign undertaken by the Government in support of the candidacy of the Governor of the Central Bank, Philip Lane, for the role of Vice President of…

Speaking on the collapse of talks to restore devolved Government in Northen Ireland, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin said: “Not for the first time in the last year attempts to reinstate the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement have failed because one side fears that their base will not tolerate a concession to the other…

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said comments by the Junior Finance Minister on the cost of accommodation across Dublin do not reflect the reality of the situation in the rental sector. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The implication that the rental crisis is a bigger issue for people on higher incomes looking to live in…

Three Weeks to Change the NPF undermines Evidence Based Approach Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly, and member of the coalition opposed to the draft National Planning Framework (NPF) has raised concerns about the integrity of the process following substantial last minute changes. Deputy Kelly said: “After a three year process, based on a rigorous…

Labour Dublin City Councillor, Alison Gilliland has said the Northern Cross relief road must be included in the National Capital Plan to be announced on Friday. Cllr Gilliland said: “It is essential that the relief-road detailed in the Belmayne/Clongriffin Local Area Plan be included in the government’s upcoming Capital Plan. This relief-road is a must…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called on the Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, to remove the cap on enrolment of Educate Together schools. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Reports from around the country about the Department of Education and Skills’ insistence on putting an enrolment cap on Educate Together schools is deeply…