Type: Press

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said it’s vital that councils make proper use of the Government’s Vacant Properties Programme, to ensure people are taken off social housing waiting lists as soon as possible. It follows reports of claims by the National Oversight Audit Commission that local authorities may be purposely delaying the refurbishment…

Labour TD for Tipperary and Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly has questioned why the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald didn’t act on information Deputy Kelly put on the Dáil record regarding the Garda Training College on April 12th. Deputy Kelly said: “I raised the issues surrounding the Garda Training College…

Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin, has commented on the one year anniversary of the Government. Deputy Howlin said: “This Government was put in place 365 days ago when Enda Kenny was re-elected as Taoiseach on 6th May. “Just 24 Acts have been passed since they took office, while the number of bills passed by the…

Labour spokesperson for Education and Skills, Joan Burton TD, has hit out at Fine Gael for trying once again to delay giving local children places in their local schools. Deputy Burton said: “We’ve seen from media reports today that there is serious internal pressure in the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party for further delaying tactics on…

Labour Spokesperson for Climate Action Sean Sherlock has welcomed the passage of his Prohibition of Microplastics Bill at second stage in the Dáil today. The Bill now moves onto committee stage following the abstention of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who together had blocked a previous bill in the Seanad. Deputy Sherlock said: “This is…

Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Senator Ivana Bacik, has expressed concern at reports Ireland may have voted in favour of Saudi Arabia securing a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify the Irish position.  Senator Bacik commented: “Saudi Arabia has an…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has described the new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 as a ‘welcome start’ on the road toward greater equality between men and women, and reiterated the Labour Party’s commitment to legislate for gender pay gap transparency and so-called ‘revenge porn’. Senator Bacik commented: “Any moves to bring about greater…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has criticised the Government for delaying progress on collective bargaining rights for freelance workers. “The Government have today confirmed that Labour’s Bill to give collective bargaining rights to freelancers is stuck in parliamentary limbo. “As we approach the first anniversary of this Government, we have heard much about ‘new…

Commenting on the news tonight that the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) has reached agreement with the Department of Education on the sale of Harold’s Cross greyhound stadium, Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly had said the board has serious questions to answer. Deputy Kelly said: “The Irish Grehound Board, tasked with developing and…

Labour spokesperson for Dublin Senator Kevin Humphreys, and local Labour Cllr Mary Freehill have welcomed the purchase of the Harold’s Cross Greyhound stadium by the Department of Education for provision of the future schooling needs of the area. Senator Humphreys and Cllr Freehill are now calling on Dublin City Council to immediately start work on…

Labour spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Senator Ged Nash, has said that the Government’s draft legislative proposals to address ‘if-and-when’ contracts appear similar to a curate’s egg, good in parts. The proposals follow a study by the University of Limerick, which was commissioned by Senator Nash in Government, into the prevalence of these contracts. Senator Nash…

Labour Youth has today criticised proposals to introduce an income contingent loan scheme, branding the €160 per month repayment rate “disgraceful.” Commenting on the report, Chair of Labour Youth Kevin Donoghue commented: “Some people in the sector have become obsessed with introducing loan schemes and it doesn’t seem to matter how nonsensical, exclusionary or unworkable…

The Labour Party in a submission to the Government’s Mid Term review of Capital Expenditure has called for an increase in the available budget. Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin also reiterated his call for the sale of shares in AIB to be halted until the proceeds can be committed to Irish infrastructure. Deputy Howlin said:…

“I welcome the Alternative Proposal for the Liffey Cycle Route which Dublin City Council’s Transportation Strategic Policy Committee will consider at its next meeting on Thursday, 3rd May. “Stoneybatter Pride of Place has long argued that the original proposal would divert all the private traffic entering Dublin along the North Quays up Blackhall place. Such unprecedented…

I welcome today’s report from the CSO which reveals that as many as as 10.1% of workers earn the National Minimum Wage (NMW) of €9.25 per hour or less. “When Labour established the Low Pay Commission, we asked the CSO to gather robust information on the prevalence of the NMW to address the yawning gap…

Labour Party spokesperson on Children and Youth affairs, Jan O’Sullivan has welcomed the European Commission’s decision to include an improved right to parental leave in the European Pillar of Social Rights. “I strongly welcome the decision by the European Commission to include an improved right to parental leave as part of their effort to create…

Labour Party spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD has called on Minister for Health to take control of the situation regarding the National Maternity Hospital. “It is time now for Minister Harris to take control of the situation with the National Maternity Hospital. We are now in a situation where it is getting deeply personal…

Labour Party TD Joan Burton has welcomed the passing of Emergency Motions regarding the ownership and governance of the National Maternity Hospital at the St. Vincent’s Hospital site, at the party’s National Conference in Wexford this morning. Opening this morning’s discussion on the matter, Deputy Burton said: “Ireland is in the unique situation in terms…

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has welcomed the comprehensive debate on housing motions proposed by Labour Party members across the country. The motions were discussed on the second day of the party’s National Conference in Wexford, today. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Housing is one of the big issues of our time and I am delighted…

The Labour Party has adopted a new Constitution that seeks to strengthen democracy within the party and introduce new structures for policy development and campaigns. The new Constitution was created following input from members and a review of party structures, and was voted on by members on the opening night (Friday) of the Labour Party National…

Delegates at the Labour Party’s National Conference in Wexford will this morning debate Emergency Motions on the controversy surrounding the ownership and governance arrangements of the planned National Maternity Hospital at St. Vincent’s campus in Dublin. It comes after it was revealed that the Sisters of Charity would be the sole owners of the State…

Labour’s Health Spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said that Minister Simon Harris should consider bringing in legislation, if necessary, to initiate a compulsory purchase order for the St. Vincent’s Hospital site, if the deal to build the new National Maternity Hospital does not go ahead. It’s after the Board of the St. Vincent’s Group said…

The Labour Party is holding its 69th National Conference in Wexford this weekend. The three-day event, which will be attended by more than 900 party members and supporters, will be an opportunity to showcase the party’s policy work over the past year, and present the party’s plans for the future. Speaking ahead of the Conference, Labour…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson Jan O’ Sullivan T.D. has this morning contacted Minister Simon Coveney to ask for his intervention to stop the eviction of the residents of Fisherman’s Quay, Grove Island. Deputy O’ Sullivan believes that legislation passed just before Christmas in the Dáil may protect the residents depending on the number who have…