Type: Press

Labour spokesperson on Labour Affairs and Workers Rights, Senator Ged Nash, will tomorrow lead a debate in the Seanad on a Bill that has the potential to transform the lives of working people by providing greater certainty and employment security for thousands of atypical workers in sectors such as hospitality, retail and the care sector….

Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan TD will today launch a Bill on rent certainty which will be introduced in the Dáil on Tuesday, and Senator Ged Nash will speak on the Seanad bill to be debated on Wednesday that will regulate uncertain hours. They will be available to speak to reporters at 12pm on Tuesday…

Former Union of Students in Ireland President Kevin Donoghue has been elected Chairperson of Labour Youth at the organisations annual conference this weekend in County Louth. Kevin Donoghue aged 26 was President of the USI from 2015-16. As President of the USI he played a leading role in forming the Coalition for Publicly Funded Education….

Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin, is appealing to the Government and all political parties in Dáil Éireann to support legislation designed to tackle the behaviour of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies. The Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was introduced by Deputy Howlin to the Dáil on the 19th October, has now been…

Labour spokesperson on the Arts, Joan Burton, has expressed her sadness at the news of the death of Leonard Cohen overnight and paid tribute to him as one of the great artists of our time. Deputy Burton said: “I am so sad to hear of Leonard Cohen’s passing and offer my sincere condolences to his…

The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 was introduced in the Seanad at Second Stage on 20th January 2016, on behalf of the Labour Party Senators, as a private members’ bill initiated by Senator Ivana Bacik. The Bill was accepted by then Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton and passed Second Stage. Labour Senators brought…

Labour spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Alan Kelly, has called on the Government to outline how it plans to respond to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals to slash the US corporate tax rate from 35 to 15 per cent. The tax measures, which are outlined in Mr Trump’s ‘America First’ economic plan, would also end…

Senator Ivana Bacik, Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, today expressed her disappointment at the result of the US election and defeat of Hillary Clinton. Speaking in the Seanad during the Order of Business, Senator Bacik said: “The result declared this morning in the US Presidential election represents a real disappointment for all of us who…

Like many Irish people, and people all around the world, I went to bed last night feeling apprehensive, and woke up to realise that a nightmare had become a reality. A man who has, at every opportunity, sought to demean and belittle whole swathes of his society, has become the leader of the largest free…

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan, is calling on the Government to introduce measures to bring certainty for renters. It comes after the latest rental figures from property website Daft.ie show residential rents have soared nationally by 11.7 per cent year-on year in the third quarter- the highest annual rate of…

Welcoming the proposals to amend Councillor PRSI benefits in the Social Welfare Bill, Deputy Willie Penrose today said: “The Social Welfare Bill was published last Friday, just four days ago, covering all the changes announced in Budget 2017. It was signed off by the Cabinet last week. I welcome this change which has been long…

Labour spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Development, Senator Ivana Bacik, has expressed concern at reports of the detention by the Turkish government of Opposition politicians, members of Turkey’s Democratic Party (HDP). Senator Bacik said: “I join with the Party of European Socialists in their statement today, condemning the detention of Opposition MPs by the Turkish government,…

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, Labour Party spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government said: “The Labour Party has always supported the public ownership of our water infrastructure.” “Our colleague Willie Penrose published a Bill in July this year outlining those principles and calling for an amendment to our Constitution. The Labour amendment would ensure that the…

Today, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has welcomed the publication of the first report by the Climate Change Advisory Council. Speaking on the publication of the report, Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “I welcome the first report of the Climate Change Advisory after hard won climate change legislation was championed by Labour in government. The passing of the…

Labour spokesperson for Older People, Emmet Stagg, is urging people, particularly in rural or remote communities, to check in on their elderly neighbours in the event of industrial action by Gardaí tomorrow. “Many older people might understandably be feeling anxious ahead of tomorrow’s planned strike by rank and file Gardaí, especially those who live alone…

Labour spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Seán Sherlock, has welcomed confirmation from the Taoiseach today that in the event of industrial action by Gardaí on Friday, 999 calls will continue to be answered as normal. During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Deputy Sherlock moved to allay the fears of communities across the country that…

Labour Equality is today supporting the motion to immediately relocate 200 children from Calais and calling for an emergency plan to be put in place to meet their needs. National Chairperson of Labour Equality, Eoin Barry commented “Irish people have witnessed the plight of refugees in Calais with great sadness and distress. The compelling images…

Labour Party spokesperson on Labour Affairs and Workers Rights, Senator Ged Nash, has welcomed the signing of the amended Employment Regulation Order for the Contract Cleaning Sector, which will see 34, 000 contract cleaners benefit from three new pay rate increases over the next two years. By December 2018, the new statutory minimum rate of…

Labour Party spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD has criticised the closure of ten in-patient beds during critical winter months in University Hospital Waterford. “To close beds at this time of year is worrying for patients in the South-East and nursing staff who will feel the extra burden of these beds being closed. “The question…

Senator Ivana Bacik has confirmed that the Labour Party will be supporting the motion from the ‘Not on Our Watch’ campaign (text below). “In the Seanad today I sought support from the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan for the proposal that Ireland would welcome 200 unaccompanied minors from Calais.” “Ireland needs to act to…

Labour Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Jan O’Sulllivan TD, is calling on the Government to tell homeless parents living in hotels around Ireland exactly when their children will be provided with free transport to and from school. “This was one of the promises in the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness- and a…

Labour Youth is today reiterating the need to end pay discrimination in support of the ASTI’s call to tackle the issue of pay discrimination for newly qualified teachers. National Chairperson of Labour Youth, Grace Williams commented, “For too long we have seen entry level public sector workers, like newly qualified teachers, be subject to unequal…

“I welcome the intervention of the Heritage Council in relation to vacant houses around the country. They are right to highlight the need to expand the Living City Initiative to include towns. I called for such an expansion in advance of the budget and for the scheme to be made more user-friendly. However, we need…

The Government needs to create more apprenticeship opportunities in the construction sector to cater for the expected surge in demand in the industry over the next four years. A new report by DKM economists has raised concerns about a possible lag in the availability of a skilled workforce, which it says is necessary for the…