Type: Press
Tolka fish kill highlights need for a strategy to protect our waterways
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyDuncan 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…
Read more »Baby Friendly Health Initiative funding must be restored
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Bacik welcomes publication of National Mitigation Plan
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Deal isn’t done on Clonkeen
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Government making hard work of Minimum Wage promise
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Position of Commissioner untenable following PAC report
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyVice 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:…
Read more »Government must come clean on source of water refunds
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Ó Ríordáin publishes Education Welfare Amendment Bill to tackle infant school absenteeism
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Action must be taken on drug injection centres
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Government must outline plans to reduce class sizes
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »City Council should focus on building homes rather than grand plans
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Dail committee should have considered Operation Sophia motion
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Refreshed Frontbench unveiled by Howlin
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Bacik welcomes renewed Government commitment on pension equality
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartySenator 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…
Read more »Donohoe should tell us what he plans to cut in Budget 2018
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…
Read more »Increase in capital spending not enough
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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,…
Read more »Summer Economic Statement promises little, and will deliver less
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyThe 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…
Read more »IHREC report highlights need to pass Labour Homeless Families Bill- O’Sullivan
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour spokesperson on Children, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said a report by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) highlights the importance of passing Labour legislation recognising the rights of homeless children in an emergency accommodation situation. The IHREC has raised a number of…
Read more »Labour Senators table motion opposing student loans
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Senators today will use their Private Members’ time to call on the Government to oppose the student loan scheme option recommended in the Cassells’ Report. The Labour Party motion calls on the Government to commit to providing equality of access to education for all;…
Read more »Minister Harris must answer questions regarding Entresto drug- Kelly
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, is demanding answers from the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and the HSE, regarding their failure to allocate the drug Entresto for reimbursement – a drug which has been certified as both life saving and cost-effective. Deputy Kelly…
Read more »Full transparency and strong oversight needed on third level
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyVice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD of the Labour Party, has welcomed the publication of the PAC report today on the third level education sector. It shows the need for full transparency on the sources of funding Universities and Institutes of…
Read more »Government needs to tackle undersupply in housing- O’Sullivan
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the latest CSO house price figures highlight the urgent need for action on the supply of homes across Ireland. The figures show house prices rose nationally by just under 12 per cent in the past year, the…
Read more »O’Sullivan introduces Homeless Families Bill
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, is today introducing legislation into the Dáil that aims to ensure the best interests of homeless children are recognised by Local Authorities in an emergency situation. The Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017 would require Local Authorities to recognise the…
Read more »Bacik welcomes USI support for Seanad Motion
Press Archives – Page 136 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Leader in the Seanad, Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed the support from the Union of Students in Ireland for the Labour Party’s motion to be debated on Wednesday evening. Labour’s motion calls on the Government to affirm its commitment to providing equality of access…
Read more »