Type: Press
Government must act on Defence Forces Terms & Conditions
Today at Leader’s Questions in the Dáil, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin raised the terms and conditions of personnel in our Defence Forces and the need for the Government to act. The full transcript of the exchange is available below: Deputy Brendan Howlin said: “In addition to his other duties the Taoiseach has retained for…
Read more »Kelly asks why Minister Flanagan hasn’t acted on Charleton Liaison Committee Concerns?
Labour TD for Tipperary, and Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Deputy Alan Kelly has today said: “I have been asking the former Minister for Justice and the current Minister for Justice numerous questions (25 in total, available below) with regards to An Garda Síochána’s Charleton Liaison Committee since last May. I have never been satisfied…
Read more »Flanagan to attend Seanad over Garda overtime ban- Humphreys
Labour Dublin Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed confirmation that the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan will attend the Seanad this evening in relation to concerns over cutbacks to Garda overtime this Christmas. Senator Humphreys said: “In light of news today that there are to be cutbacks to Garda overtime over the Christmas period, I welcome…
Read more »Latest HIQA report into Áras Attracta disappointing – Kelly
Commenting on the latest HIQA report into Áras Attracta, Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said that it is clear that residents are still not receiving adequate care. Deputy Kelly: “We were all shocked and disturbed by the revelations of extremely poor treatment of vulnerable residents in Áras Attracta when they first came…
Read more »O’Sullivan statement on Dublin homeless deaths
Commenting on the tragic deaths of two people sleeping rough in Dublin this week, Labour Housing spokesperson Deputy Jan O’Sullivan said: “Sadly this week alone we have seen the deaths of two more homeless people in Dublin, and I would like to express my sympathies with the families and friends of these two individuals. These…
Read more »Humphreys concern over cutbacks to Garda overtime in Dublin this Christmas
Labour Dublin Senator Kevin Humphreys has expressed concern that cutbacks to Garda overtime in Dublin this Christmas period may leave the capital particularly vulnerable to an increase in crime. Senator Humphreys said: “The Christmas period is traditionally a very busy time for Gardaí in Dublin when we tend to see an increase in incidents like…
Read more »Statement from Brendan Howlin, Leader of the Labour Party
Labour leader Brendan Howlin today expressed his profound disappointment at news that the purchase of a new Wexford Campus site by the Institute of Technology Carlow has been cancelled. “It is profoundly disappointing that the land deal agreed two years ago will no longer go ahead. “I remain absolutely committed to the establishment of a…
Read more »Statement on the resignation of Senator Denis Landy
Labour leader Brendan Howlin has today paid tribute to Denis Landy following the announcement of his resignation as a member of Seanad Éireann. Deputy Howlin said: “Denis has been a loyal and faithful servant to the Labour Party for many years. As a councillor, Mayor, Dáil candidate and member of Seanad Éireann, he has always…
Read more »City Council action on Airbnb short term lets long overdue
Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed the long overdue action by Dublin City Council against the proliferation of short term lets without appropriate planning permission. Senator Humphreys said: “The reports today that Dublin City Council has finally begun a crackdown on Airbnb-type short term lets without planning permission is welcome but long overdue. “I have…
Read more »Clarity need on Department of Justice reform proposals
Labour spokesperson on Justice, Sean Sherlock TD has said that media reports regarding proposals to split the Department of Justice into clear Justice and Home Affairs portfolios as recommended by the Toland Report should already be implemented but that if new Ministries were to be established we will need further clarity from the two parties…
Read more »Why didn’t Tanaiste ask Questions of her own Department in May 2016?
Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly has tonight asked why the Tánaiste did not ask questions of her own Department about the legal strategy at O’Higgins in May 2016. Deputy Kelly said: “Every day we are finding out more and more of what was going on in the Department of Justice around the time of…
Read more »OIREACHTAS MUST ENSURE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF DAIL EIREANN AND THE POPULATION PER DAIL CONSTITUENCY SHALL BE ADDRESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS BEFORE ELECTION IS CALLED
“Arising from the 2016 Census and the 2017 Constituency Commission Report the next Dáil must have more members than the current Dáil to stay within the rules as set by the Constitution. “If the Oireachtas does not legislate to increase number of TDs the next Dáil Éireann will be in breach of the Constitution. Failure…
Read more »Taoiseach making a mockery of democratic institutions-Kelly
Labour Party TD for Tipperary, Alan Kelly has said it is vital that documents that were given to the leader of Fianna Fáil yesterday are given to other Opposition parties today. Deputy Kelly said: “The fact that only the leader of Fianna Fáil has been given access to documents by the Taoiseach makes a mockery…
Read more »New Justice documents must be released
Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD has called for the batch of documents provided to Fianna Fáil from the Department of Justice to be provided to all opposition parties, and that clarity is needed as to whether these have also been provided to the Disclosures Tribunal. Deputy Howlin said: “In an attempt to salvage the…
Read more »Independent Alliance only concerned for own seats
Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said in reaction to this afternoon’s comments by the Independent Alliance that it is clear their only concern is retaining their own seats, instead of asking for answers to the outstanding questions on justice issues. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “This afternoon the Independent Alliance has called for Fine Gael and…
Read more »Labour on election footing
Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, at today’s meeting of the Labour Party Parliamentary Party, laid out the Labour Party’s plan for the possibility of a general election. Deputy Howlin said: “The events of the last fortnight have been extraordinary. “Since late October, Alan Kelly has been tabling questions to the Minister for Justice, to…
Read more »Costello proposed new Strategy for resolving housing and homeless crisis
Speaking at the Labour Party meeting on “Housing and Urban Regeneration” in the Skylon Hotel on Thursday 23 November, Joe Costello stated that all recent indicators demonstrated that the housing crisis is getting worse and new approach is needed. “Homeless figures for November showed a record of 5,298 adults and 3,194 children homeless with a…
Read more »Labour calls on Minister for Justice and Equality to apologise to Dáil Éireann
Labour leader Brendan Howlin has today called on the Minister for Justice and Equality to apologise to Dáil Éireann for his failings and those of his Department to prevent incorrect information from being repeatedly provided to parliament. “Earlier today, I warned that a focus on whether the Dáil has confidence in the Tánaiste risked diverting…
Read more »Stepaside station opening not a priority says Dublin Garda Chief – Kelly
Vice Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD, has described the re-opening of Stepaside Garda Station as incredible. Deputy Kelly said: “What we heard at this morning’s Public Accounts Committee surrounding the re-opening of Stepaside Garda Station is unbelievable. “The Head of Policing in Dublin, Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy, admitted to the…
Read more »Bring Back Operation Freeflow to tackle Traffic Chaos
Labour Transport spokesperson, Sen. Kevin Humphreys has said that the traffic chaos this morning shows the need for the reinstatement of Operation Freeflow in the run up to Christmas. Senator Humphreys has written to the Minister for Transport and Minister for Justice calling on them to re-introduce the successful scheme. Senator Humphreys said: “Across the…
Read more »Kelly calls on Taoiseach to correct Dáil record again regarding McCabe controversy
Deputy Alan Kelly has called on the Taoiseach to correct the Dáil record regarding the Maurice McCabe controversy. Deputy Kelly said: “I am not satisfied that the Dáil received accurate information from the Taoiseach on two occasions last week regarding the timelines of when the Department of Justice was made aware of the then Garda…
Read more »Minister for Children must take action on HIQA foster care report
Labour spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Seán Sherlock TD, has expressed concern over the findings of a HIQA progress report on Tusla-operated foster care services in Cork. The return inspection, which followed a previous inspection, last February, identified major non-compliance with all four standards assessed, which the report said ‘continued to pose a risk…
Read more »Nash publishes Labour Bill to tackle bogus self employment
Labour Employment spokesperson, Senator Ged Nash has today published a Bill to tackle bogus self-employment contracts that deny workers the same protection and entitlements as their employed colleagues. The Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self Employment) Bill 2017 would put all workers on an equal footing in situations where they are carrying out…
Read more »Nash welcomes creation of new public sector union
Labour Party spokesperson on Employment and Workers’ Rights, Senator Ged Nash, has welcomed the amalgamation of IMPACT, Civil and Public Services Union and Public Sector Executive Union into Fórsa. Commenting on the development, Senator Nash said: “The decision by IMPACT, CPSU and PSEU to amalgamate into one union, Fórsa, is a positive move for public…
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