Type: Press

Nash concerned that aim is to reduce number of those seeking refunds. Body likely to be inundated with Freedom of Information requests to Irish Water to gain proof of payment. Labour spokesperson on Social Protection, Senator Ged Nash has said the Government is needlessly complicating the system for water refunds. The creation of a new…

Deputy Willie Penrose reacts to the information emanating from the CSO Survey, that Ballynacargy has one of the lowest levels of broadband coverage in rural areas across the Country. Deputy Penrose Stated “There has been a cacophony of lip service to rural Ireland by many Ministers of various political persuasions over the last number of…

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called on the Government to guarantee that the housing budget will not be tapped to refund water charges. Last November, Deputy O’Sullivan questioned why the Department of Housing had an underspend of of €90 million at that time, in a Parliamentary Question to the previous Minister. Deputy O’Sullivan…

The Mid-Year Expenditure Report published today by Minister Donohoe makes for very worrying reading, while his appearance at the Budgetary Oversight Committee has created even greater cause for concern. Deputy Howlin commented:  “Firstly, we find that there would appear to be a further €48m to be found this year to pay the cost of bringing…

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has repeated his call for appropriate investment in the Emergency Department in Beaumont Hospital. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The problems in the Beaumont Hospital accident and emergency department persist.  When I was a Member of the Dáil, the then Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and I met with…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has said the third level sector needs to dramatically up its game and take positive action measures to increase the number of women in senior academic positions in Irish universities. It comes after new figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) revealed that while over half of all lecturers are women,…

Labour spokesperson on Equality, Cllr Deirdre Kingston has called for better transparency on immigration cases following the detention overnight of a Brazilian woman who was entitled to visit Ireland for up to 90 days. Cllr Kingston said answers are needed as to why the woman was detained, was due to be deported but then released…

Duncan Smith, Labour Party Councillor for Swords and keen angler, has described the latest fish kill on the River Tolka as another example of the vulnerability of our urban waterways to pollution.  Cllr Smith, who is leading a community angling initiative in Swords, was a junior member of the Tolka Trout Angling Association, has called…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on the HSE to ensure funding is continued for the Baby Friendly Health Initiative. Senator Humphreys said: “The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) is an international breastfeeding best practice strategy that is endorsed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and is vital to maintain international standards for maternity…

Labour spokesperson on Climate Action and the Environment, Senator Ivana Bacik, has welcomed the publication of the new National Mitigation Plan but is calling on the Government to commit to more substantive measures to tackle climate change. Senator Bacik commented: “I welcome the publication of today’s plan on climate action, and hope it indicates a…

Labour Cllr for Dun Laoghaire, Deirdre Kingston has said there is a lot more that needs to happen before the sale agreement on the Clonkeen pitches is signed, sealed and delivered. Cllr. Kingston said: “Recent reports from the Minister for Education suggest that the sale is a done deal. “I don’t accept that. There is…

Labour spokesperson on Worker’s Rights, Senator Ged Nash has said that the government is making extremely hard work of their pledge to increase the National Minimum Wage to €10.50 per hour. Senator Nash said: “While modest, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation to increase the rate by 30 cent an hour to €9.55 is a welcome…

Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD, reacting to the report on the financial irregularities at the Garda College in Templemore, has said that the conclusions show that the position of the Garda Commissioner is untenable, and should resign. Deputy Kelly said: “Following extensive hearings on the financial irregularities at the Garda…

Labour spokesperson on Social Protection, Senator Ged Nash, has called on the Government to come clean on where the €170 million to refund water charges will come from. Senator Nash is concerned that the Christmas Bonus may be scrapped, and spending on frontline public services curtailed to pay for it. There is also an outstanding…

Labour Party spokesperson on Education and Skills, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has launched the Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017. The Bill aims to amend the Education Welfare Act 2000 which established the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) but which only applies to children aged 6-16 years. Currently children enrolled in a recognised school aged 4…

Labour spokesperson on Health Promotion and Drugs Strategy, Councillor Martina Genockey, has broadly welcomed the National Drugs Strategy but said Minister Catherine Byrne must accelerate efforts on drug injection centres. Commenting on the National Drugs Strategy, Cllr Genockey said: “I broadly welcome the positive measures included in the National Drugs Strategy that wish to include…

Labour Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called on the Government to outline how it plans to reduce primary school class sizes. It comes after figures from the Department of Education show that nearly 120 thousand primary school children remain in classes of at least 30 pupils. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “In 2016, Labour…

Labour spokesperson on Community Affairs, Cllr Andrew Montague, has said that Dublin City Council should focus on delivering new social housing, both rapid build, and new schemes, rather than engaging in grand plans for regenerating the entire housing stock. Cllr Montague, who is Chair of the City Council’s Planning Committee was responding to reports in…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has expressed his concern at the limited debate on the Defence motion under the triple lock, seeking Dáil approval for Irish participation in Operation Sophia. There has not been adequate consideration of this military operation. Proposals to refer the subject for deeper consideration at committee were blocked by Fine Gael…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin today announced the refreshed Labour frontbench, incorporating those who have been selected as general election candidates, while giving each Labour Senator the responsibility of shadowing the work of a full Cabinet Minister. Speaking at the announcement, he said: “For the last year, we have done the hard work of rebuilding…

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the commitment given by Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty that the government will introduce an amendment at Committee stage to the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017, published this week, to fulfil the provisions contained in Head 14 of the General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions…

Labour spokesperson on Public Expenditure, Sean Sherlock has called on Minister Donohoe to outline where he believes expenditure savings can be made to free up fiscal space, following the publication of the Summer Economic Statement. The Government has also failed to adequately increase capital expenditure as by 2021 Ireland will only invest 2.3% of GDP,…

Labour spokesperson on Finance Joan Burton TD has said the proposed increase in capital expenditure by €500 million a year is not enough, and that the rainy day fund is the wrong approach at this time. the document has nothing to say on tax justice, nor what the Government’s priorities are on taxation. Deputy Burton…

The publication of the Summer Economic Statement promises little to the people of Ireland, and will deliver even less, according to Labour leader Brendan Howlin: “Over recent days and weeks, we have heard much about Fine Gael’s ongoing commitment to reducing taxes, and increasing welfare payments and public spending. “The Summer Economic Statement published today…