Type: Press

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyHousing is undoubtedly one of the most pressing issues facing Irish society. It is important the Government’s Housing Action Plan succeeds. However it must be closely monitored. It is concerning there is nothing in the plan to stop developers hoarding land when it could be…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyDail Statements on Nice Attacks Bastille Day commemorates a transformative moment in modern democracy. Each year, the French people remember the value of citizenship, and that France is now a country united. But last week the peaceful celebrations of national unity and identity were torn…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyToday’s report from the Low Pay Commission on the proposed 2017 rate for the National Minimum Wage is disappointing. This year, I increased the National Minimum Wage to €9.15 an hour from €8.65 per hour. That means that a single worker who ordinarily works a…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyToday’s recommendation by Low Pay Commission of an increase of just one per cent in the National Minimum Wage is very disappointing and falls well short of what is needed if the Programme for Government commitment to increase it to €10.50/hour by 2021is to be…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyThe Labour Party spokesperson on Housing Jan O’Sullivan today launched the Party’s Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016. Among the measures included in the legislation are: The implementation of the recommendations of the Kenny report The remit of NAMA to be broadened and for the…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyI reiterate the call made by Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin in the Dáil today that the government must urgently deliver on its commitment to establish a task force to tackle crime and economic disadvantage in Dublin’s North Inner City. The rise in gang land…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyDáil Éireann, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 With one or two caveats I and my Party support this Bill. We agree with the proposal to reduce the threshold value of property subject to      confiscation from €13,000 to €5,000. And we agree with a new,…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyIn the Dáil under the Order of Business I told the Tánaiste that I am not satisfied with the government’s progress on establishing a taskforce to focus on regenerating the North Inner City of Dublin.   In the wake of a spate of gang-related killings,…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyA study by the Nevin Economic Research Institute has shown that almost three quarters of people earning the minimum wage in Ireland are women. The disproportionately high number of women earning the minimum wage clearly demonstrates the need to introduce a living wage to help…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyThe Government’s Housing strategy leaked today and due to be published next week contains a lot of measures but no clear direction. It contains sops to the construction industry, for example upfront payment for Part 5 social houses and the use of public land for…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyNew research from the ESRI suggesting that young people find life much tougher than the over-65s comes as no shock to the young people reading it. Grace Williams, Labour Youth National Chairperson said on the report: “It has been clear for some time that young…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartySpeaking in the Dail today, Alan Kelly asked Health Minister Simon Harris to provide an up-to-date list of section 38 entities which receive funding from the HSE and for a full breakdown of the funding each organisation received from 2013 to 2015. He said: “I’m…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyOn the Order of Business today, Senator Ivana Bacik expressed her concern regarding the proposal to introduce a scheme of income contingent student loans to fund third level education, and called for a debate on the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyA news report in the Guardian this week suggesting that the latest draft version of the TTIP agreement could all but end European efforts to save energy and switch to clean power, is very worrying. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/11/leaked-ttip-energy-proposal-could-sabotage-eu-climate-policy According to the piece, the EU will propose a…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyIt is welcome that the Cassells report is proposing that whatever funding model is chosen for third level education, that part time students would be funded in the same manner as full time students. The report also proposes an extension of student supports to part…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyI welcome the publication of today’s GDP growth figures for 2015. Even when we strip away the effect of companies relocating assets to Ireland, the economic growth figures are stratospheric. Labour in government delivered national economic recovery and unprecedented growth. In introducing new collective bargaining…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Youth National Chairperson Grace Williams has called on Fianna Fáil to rule out supporting the introduction of student loans. Williams commented: “Fianna Fáil Education and Skills Spokesperson Thomas Byrne said on Morning Ireland his party are open to the idea of introducing student loans….

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyEarlier today the Living Wage Technical Group reported that the living wage rate for 2016 is €11.50. I am calling on the government to act on this recommendation and to set out a roadmap to introduce a living wage to Ireland.  The introduction of a…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Youth has reiterated its call for state funded higher education following the publication of the Cassells Report today presenting options for funding higher education.  Labour Youth National Chairperson Grace Williams commented: “We welcome the inclusion of publicly funded higher education as an option within…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyThe funding of third level education is a critical issue and there is no doubt that in the wake of the economic crash in 2008 and the fiscal crisis that it brought about, third level education was among those sectors worst hit. However, I’m not…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour Party“Plan is designed to dismantle publicly funded emergency care” states Willie Penrose TD. The proposals emanating from an expert group and being submitted to the Department of Health and the HSE to close nine A&E units across the country are dangerous and could put lives…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyLacey elected first labour cathaoirleach of eastern and midlands regional assembly At the Annual General Meeting of the  Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly on Friday 8th July former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey was elected as the first ever Labour Party Cathaoirleach…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyI would like to welcome the positive response to calls that I made last week for the provisions of the Paternity Leave legislation that is currently in the Oireachtas, to be extended to expectant families who are due to give birth in September. In government,…

Press Archives – Page 161 of 174 – The Labour PartyJoint statement by Labour Party and SDLP Party Leaders At a meeting of the PES Leaders in Paris on 7th July a common view of the consequences of the British vote on Brexit was presented to the gathering by the Leaders of the Irish Labour…