Type: Press

Today at the Finance Committee, Labour Party spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Sherlock will be questioning the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Taxation and Customs Pierre Moscovici on the EU Stability and Growth Pact, and plans for increasing investment across Europe. Deputy Sherlock said: “At a recent meeting of leaders of the Party…

Labour Party spokesperson on Social Protection, Willie Penrose TD, has launched legislation aimed at protecting and defending the pension rights of thousands of workers in defined benefit schemes. The Bill has been submitted to the Ceann Comhairle for approval and introduction in the Dáil. The Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2017 would apply specifically in incidences when…

More fake news. That’s the reaction of rural families, small towns and community leaders across the country this evening, in response to the Government’s latest rural revival plan. The so called plan, is more ‘fake news’ from a Minister who is making it up as she goes along. Unfortunately this plan will have no hope…

Acknowledging inauguration day of the President Elect in the US, Labour Equality has vowed to continue working with those who represent the values of equality and strive for a better society for all. Chair of Labour Equality Padraig McLoughlin commented: “It is customary to not comment other than in the vaguest congratulatory terms on the…

Labour Youth has warned that demonising Trump voters may lead to a second term. Chair of Labour Youth Kevin Donoghue said “Firstly, we need to recognise the difference between Trump voters and Trump supporters. We should be asking ourselves why was it that after everything he said and everything he did enough people still went…

Labour Women has spoken out on the upcoming inauguration of the US President Elect later today, describing it as “a low point for many, but something which we will and must overcome”. Speaking on the matter today, Chair of Labour Women Sinead Ahern commented: “Today marks the build-up of a culmination of many negative feelings…

Labour spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Alan Kelly TD, has welcomed the findings of an investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission into the potential anti-competitive conduct by the Irish Property Owners Association. The investigation was launched following a complaint by Deputy Kelly to the CCPC back in December. The CCPC has made…

Labour TD for Dublin West, Joan Burton has expressed concern about a lack of community policing in West Dublin, following a spate of crime in the area and in particular the recent violent death in Lucan. Responding to Parliamentary Questions from Deputy Burton today, the Minister for Justice acknowledged that there are only six Community…

Labour spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has expressed his concern over the 13 cases of ‘possible missed cancers’ at Wexford General Hospital, and says an external review of cancer services at the hospital is welcome. It follows a HSE recall of over 600 patients who underwent cancer screening at the hospital between March 2013…

Labour TD for Longford-Westmeath, Willie Penrose, has described as “exorbitant” recent property valuation certs issued in his constituency as part of the revaluation process for commercial rates. Deputy Penrose, who raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dáil this week, has called on the Government to honour its commitment to Rural Ireland and address…

Labour Youth has today launched its Living 2019 campaign to encourage employers to pay the living wage. The Living Wage, which has been set at €11.50 by the Living Wage Technical Group, is considered to be the minimum a full time worker needs to earn to cover basic living expenses. Speaking at the launch of…

Labour spokesperson for Dublin Senator Kevin Humphreys says the Government must ensure Gardai are adequately resourced to deal with crime on our streets. It follows the violent death of a man in Lucan in the early hours of this morning, and a shooting in Ballymun on Monday. “I want to condemn the violent killing of…

Labour spokesperson on water Jan O’Sullivan TD has welcomed the clarification from EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella in a letter provided to the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services (of which she is a member) today by Minister Simon Coveney. The letter outlines the Commission position on how Ireland would comply with…

Louth Labour Senator Ged Nash says the immediate and unique challenges posed by Brexit for businesses and retailers in the Border Counties need to be taken more seriously by Government. It follows Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech yesterday outlining the UK’s plans for leaving the EU, which look set to include controls on the border…

Labour Spokesperson on Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch has welcomed that over 6,000 young people will attend Cycle Against Suicide’s annual conference over the next two days and has called on the Government to do more to tackle stigmas around youth mental health. “As a community it is essential we take care of the mental health…

Senator Ged Nash has said that the youth rate (sub-minima rate) for National Minimum wage should be scrapped. He was responding to the publication of a report by the Low Pay Commission on the issue. He said, “I commissioned the Low Pay Commission to undertake a study on the application of lower minimum wage rates…

Labour Party Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly has said the Government must do more to cut red tape on the Fair Deal scheme. “While I welcome Minister McEntee’s committment that she will open up consultation on a new statutory home care scheme, her announcement on national media this evening that it will take two to…

Labour spokesperson on transport, Brendan Ryan TD, has called on the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, to ensure that the report on Bus Éireann by Grant Thornton is published, and clarity provided to both the travelling public and the workers on the future of Expressway and Bus Éireann. “It is critical that Minister Ross publicly…

The mystery surrounding the funding of accelerated pay restoration makes a mockery of the estimates process, according to Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin, T.D. “Responding to my questions in the Dáil today, the Taoiseach confirmed that accelerated pay restoration for public servants will cost in the region of €120m this year, in addition to the…

The construction industry has begun to go crazy again. Since the foundation of the State there has never been more than than 100 units of student accommodation in my constituency of Dublin Central.  But in the last two years alone, 3,300 units have received planning permission and most are under construction. Over 2,500 more units…

Labour leader Brendan Howlin has today pledged the support of the Labour Party to our colleagues in the SDLP, as they begin an election campaign that will conclude on March 2nd. “Over recent weeks, we have seen a scandal caused by the DUP bring Stormont to a shuddering halt. Sinn Féin, who were initially happy…

Labour Party spokesperson on Education, Joan Burton TD has welcomed the statement from the Minister today that he will hold a public consultation on changing admissions policy to remove the baptism barrier. However she said that urgency was sadly lacking from his announcement and that the Government and Fianna Fáil have colluded to long finger…

Commenting on the announcement that a mobile catheterisation lab is to be provided to University Hospital Waterford, Tipperary Labour Senator Denis Landy said: “In November, Minister Halligan met University Hospital Waterford Consultants with Minister Simon Harris. He heard first hand of the stagnant waiting lists for those awaiting treatment at the cardiology unit. Minister Halligan…

Limerick Labour TD and spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has condemned the move by another faceless vulture fund to evict more than 30 families from their apartments in the Strand Complex in Limerick. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “When I brought the Labour Party Housing Bill before the Dáil towards the end…