Type: Press

Labour TD for Limerick City, Jan O’Sullivan, has paid tribute to her constituency colleague Minister Michael Noonan, who has announced he won’t be running in the next General Election. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Michael Noonan will be remembered for his contribution to the economic recovery of this country as Minister for Finance, working alongside Brendan Howlin…

Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Labour Party has said: “I note the announcement this morning by Minister of Finance Michael Noonan of his intention to stand down at next election, and not to seek appointment to the next cabinet. “Having worked closely with Michael over five difficult years, I have learned to admire his…

Commenting on the launch of the Party of European Socialist’s (PES) Act for Youth Plan campaign, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Rebecca Moynihan has called for support for the four key points of the #Act4Youth campaign, and said that the future of the Youth Guarantee programme must be secured. Cllr Moynihan said: “I’m delighted…

Statement by Brendan Howlin, Leader of the Labour Party. “I believe that Enda Kenny will be remembered as Taoiseach of the Government that brought our country back from the brink. “The period from 2011 to 2016 was a difficult time to hold public office in Ireland. But regardless of the challenges we faced, Enda Kenny…

Labour Party Leader and TD for Wexford, Brendan Howlin, has today called on the Taoiseach to ensure a mobile cath lab is in place for University Hospital Waterford. “I am particularly disappointed by the response from the Taoiseach in the Dáil today. He could not give me a date as to when the mobile cath…

Labour Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has expressed alarm at evidence given by HIQA to the Childrens’ Committee this morning. The Committee heard from HIQA representatives on the findings of the authority’s Statutory Foster Care Service inspection reports. Deputy O’Sullivan, who is Labour’s representative on the Joint Committee on Children and…

Former Labour Party TD for Cork South-West, Michael McCarthy has welcomed the opening of Dunmanway Swimming Pool. “I have championed this issue for many years, especially at national level and I am delighted that this day has finally arrived. “The proposals for the new pool were developed some time ago and it is good to…

Labour Housing Spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the Government is not moving fast enough in bringing vacant houses back into use across the country to tackle the housing crisis. Deputy O’Sullivan’s comments come ahead of a public meeting on Housing, hosted by the Labour Party in Cork tonight Deputy O’Sullivan said: “There are nearly 200,000 empty…

“The revelation that there is a Garda ‘Profile’ File on serving Garda and Whistleblower Keith Harrison is quite astonishing. The revelation by his solicitor Trevor Collins that such a file exists is incredible. The information came to light after Garda Harrison was sent a file containing documents and information that he requested under Data Protection…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, and Labour spokesperson on Workers’ Rights and Labour Affairs, Senator Ged Nash, have today launched Labour’s Workers’ Charter, Ensuring Decency and Justice in the Workplace’. Labour’s plan for decency and justice at work outlines the party’s commitments to ensure that work always pays and to further strengthen worker protections….

Labour TD for Tipperary and Vice-chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD, has called for an independent review of the misappropriation of accounts in Templemore to be headed up by the fraud squad but overseen by GSOC along with a team of independent international experts. “In order to properly investigate what happened in…

The Labour Party will be holding a public meeting on Monday 15th May at 7pm in the Imperial Hotel to discuss the issue of housing in Cork and around the State.  Speaking ahead of Labour’s housing meeting in Cork, Ciarán Lynch former TD for Cork South Central and Chairperson of the Banking Inquiry commented:  “The…

Labour Women is calling on Minister Varadkar to spend less time buttering up Blueshirts and more time running his department. Chair of Labour Women Sinead Ahern commented: “It’s shocking that there are 2,850 claims for Maternity Benefit waiting to be processed, with 1,300 of these already on maternity leave. “Minister Varadkar seems far more focused…

Labour spokesperson on Social Protection Willie Penrose TD has called on Minister Leo Varadkar to ensure he isn’t distracted any further by his leadership ambitions and ensures that new mothers receive their maternity benefit. Deputy Penrose said: “The failure of the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that hundreds of new mothers can receive their…

Labour TD for Dublin West, Deputy Joan Burton has said: “My thoughts and sympathies are with the residents of Verdemont Coolmine, Blanchardstown who suffered a disastrous fire at their apartments. “I want to salute Dublin fire brigade and all the emergency workers and the Fingal County Council staff who worked to put out the fire…

Labour Party Senator, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has welcomed the passage of the Misuse of Drugs 2017 Bill, as an ‘historic day’ for drug policy in Ireland. Senator Ó Ríordáin first received Cabinet support for the legislation as Minister for State with Responsibility for Drugs, in December 2015. Senator Ó Ríordáin commented: “Today is an historic…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed measures contained in the new Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, which reflects legislation proposed by Labour earlier this year, to ensure greater pension rights for LGBT couples. Labour’s Equal Pensions Bill was introduced to the Seanad by Senator Bacik, in March. Senator Bacik commented: “I thank Minister Varadkar for adopting…

Following further revelations on Primetime last night, Labour TD and Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly has said it is now time for Fianna Fáil to act on the latest controversy. Deputy Kelly said: “Fianna Fáil has said if they were in Government they would have removed the Garda Commissioner. Their position…

Speaking on our motion on the sale of AIB, Labour Party spokesperson on Finance, Joan Burton TD has said it is time for Government to reconsider the sale of a 25% stake in AIB, saying that it is just pure folly at this time. Deputy Burton said: “Ireland will sell off 25% of a bank…

Labour Party spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Seán Sherlock TD, has called for the Government to immediately begin talks with public sector trade unions on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, following the publication of the report of the Public Sector Pay Commission. “It is clear from the Public Sector Pay Commission report…

Labour Housing Spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the Government needs to make use of the thousands of vacant properties around the country in a bid to tackle the housing crisis. It comes as the latest report from property website Daft.ie shows rents are at a record high, while the number of available rental properties…

Government plans to sell AIB shares should be put on hold, until the funds raised can be used to invest in vital State infrastructure. That’s according to the Labour Party, which is introducing a motion to postpone the sale until the fiscal rules are changed to allow for increased capital spending, rather than to pay…

Labour spokesperson for Dublin, Senator Kevin Humphreys has said that the delays to the proposals for a new civic plaza at College Green are disappointing and that the application to An Bord Pleanála means there is no certainty that the proposals will proceed. Senator Humphreys said: “The decision to make an application to An Bord…

Commenting on the survey published today by HIQA, Labour spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD said it showed that there was a need for a regulatory framework for all healthcare services, but in particular, private hospitals and homecare services. Deputy Kelly said: “It is disappointing to hear that 63% of people have witnessed poor provision…