Type: Press

At a meeting of the leaders of socialist, social democratic and labour parties from across the EU in Prague last night, an agreement was reached to kick-start a process of reexamining the stability and growth pact, and the fiscal rules that flow from it. The proposal was made by Labour leader Brendan Howlin, who said:…

Labour spokesperson on water, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called on the Government to clarify it’s position on water charge refunds. It comes as the latest Exchequer figures show there is enough extra tax revenue to repay those who paid. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Another day has passed with members of the Government voicing widely divergent positions…

Commenting on the continued threat to in-house production of children’s programming at RTE, Senator Kevin Humphreys said: “Tonight, across Ireland hundreds of thousands of families will sit down to watch the Late Late Toy Show.” “It is a marque event in children’s programming, and will start countless conversations and discussions in the days ahead –…

Speaking on World AIDS Day, Labour spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD has called on the Government to increase their effort to combat HIV and AIDS. “The statistics show that in the last year more people are living in Ireland with HIV than ever before. This Government should devote greater resources  to address the epidemic….

Brendan Ryan TD, Labour Party spokesperson for Transport, today proposed an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill 2016 at the Transport Committee. It  would make owners liable when their vehicle is used by an unaccompanied learner driver in a road traffic offence. The amendment is a direct response to the statement of the Clancy family…

Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed the Government’s response to the UN Human Rights Committee on the case of Amanda Mellet, describing it as a significant acknowledgement of the concerns raised by the UNHCR, and a crucial step towards a change in Ireland’s abortion regime. Senator Bacik said:“The announcement that the Government will be providing compensation…

Labour Women has welcomed the government’s response to the UN Human Rights Committee on the case of Amanda Mellet, describing it as a ‘significant step in acknowledging the shameful treatment of Amanda and thousands of other women in this country’. Chair of Labour Women Sinead Ahern commented: ‘The fact that the government is responding to…

Commenting on reports of stackable modular apartments, Cllr Alison Gilliland said: ‘News articles today regarding the use of a site on the Bunratty Road, Coolock, for stackable modular homes for homeless families are misleading and need clarification’. ‘This site is the third and final phase of the development on Dublin City Council owned land between…

Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has described the Government’s response to the UN Human Rights Committee on the case of Amanda Mellet as a “game changer” in terms of Ireland’s response to women, such as Amanda, who have to travel out of the country to access abortion services. Deputy Kelly said: “The fact…

Labour leader, Brendan Howlin, has called on the Government to provide clarity over whether it will support the idea of a referendum to keep Ireland’s water infrastructure in public ownership. It follows the publication of the report by the Expert Commission on water yesterday, which makes clear the principle that public ownership should be protected…

Commenting on his question in the Dáil on setting up a public banking network, Deputy Willie Penrose said: “I raised with the Minister for Rural and Regional Affairs the need to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to investigate the establishment of a Public Banking Network in Ireland. Such banks exist in Germany…

Labour Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Alan Kelly, today quizzed the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, on a Topical Issue Debate on the continuing failure to appoint people to the 36 State Board vacancies in his Department. Commenting after the debate, Deputy Kelly said: “For six months Minister Ross has dodged…

Commenting on the announcement of a two-phased approach by the Government to public sector pay, Labour Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform Sean Sherlock TD said: “For months the Labour Party has called on the Government to move on opening discussions on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.” “The announcement today that talks would…

Labour Spokesperson on Education, Joan Burton, has welcomed the publication of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2015), which shows some improvement to the international ranking of Irish students, particularly in maths. Deputy Burton said: “Today’s figures confirm positive results for parents and their children, who want a good foundation in maths…

Labour spokesperson on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Seán Sherlock, will bring a Bill before the Dáil today, aimed at banning the use of microbeads and other micro-plastics in cosmetic and personal products. The Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016 would make it an offence to manufacture, sell or advertise any products that use microbeads….

Commenting on news reports on the proposed recommendations from the Expert Water Commission, Labour Party Spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan said: “This evenings leak of recommendations from the Expert Water Commission shows that they have taken on board many of the proposals in our Labour Party submission, including a referendum to ensure our water infrastructure remains in…

The Kildare Garda division is short by 268 personnel across Rank and File Gardaí, Garda Reserves, Community Gardaí and Civilian Personnel, according to Garda figures obtained by Labour representative for Kildare North, Emmett Stagg. Labour’s spokesperson for Older People said: “These figures, based on Kildare population stats in the 2016 Census, clearly show that across…

Labour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on RTE management to reconsider it’s abrupt decision to close the Young People’s Department, saying: “We all have fond memories of Zig and Zag, Dustin, Mary Fitzgerald, Ray D’Arcy and the great in-house domestically produced programming that entertained generations of Irish children.” “The shock announcement yesterday that RTE…

Labour Party Senator and spokesperson on Dublin, Kevin Humphreys, has welcomed the news that a new National Maternity Hospital will finally be built at St. Vincents. “I have been calling for some time for construction to begin on the new National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park as a matter of urgency” “I am glad a…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has welcomed the announcement of a successful resolution of the dispute over governance between the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital, and said: “I welcome the news that a resolution has now been found to preserve the ethos and independence of the National Maternity Hospital through…

Speaking on the UN Day Opposing Violence against Women, Labour’s spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs has called for Ireland to immediately ratify the Council of Europe Lanzarote Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation & Sexual Abuse. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Today we pause to remember the thousands of women in Ireland and…

Labour Party spokesperson on mental health, Kathleen Lynch has tonight launched a new Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme in University College Cork. “I welcome the launch of this programme, which stems from the work I did when I was Minister of State. It has been developed as a direct result of the groundbreaking policy and…

Comments from Labour Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance Committee member, Seán Sherlock, on the launch of the committee’s report on the Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: “The biggest issue in this report is the lack of transparent data provided by the insurance industry for the increases in premiums. We still do not…

Labour Spokesperson on Local Government Reform, Senator Denis Landy, has expressed his outright opposition to a section in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 that proposes to allow developers building housing estates of over 100 units to bypass Local Authorities and head straight to An Bord Pleanála for permission. Speaking during…