Type: Press

James Connolly said “Ireland without its people means nothing to me”. To paraphrase Connolly – Europe without its people means nothing to me. So can we now speak of European People? We are Irish & European, French & European, Polish & European. We see the shock and anger among people and a new fear of…

EU MUST REJECT IMPULSE TO ACT SWIFTLY AND HARSHLY AGAINST BRITAIN This Friday marks the 100th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. It was the worst day in the history of the British Army. It will be marked all across the United Kingdom, and here too. It is particularly significant…

Education Spokesperson, Joan Burton TD, Party Leader Brendan Howlin, and Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin today published a Labour Party Bill that will make it easier for parents to send their children to their local school, regardless of their faith.The Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 will address and tackle the current practice of primary…

I would like to extend my best wishes to the organisers and participants of the Dublin Pride Parade which takes place today. The  annual Pride Parade is an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate our diversity. While the passing of the Marriage Equality referendum last year was a…

In last year’s budget, Labour introduced landmark proposals to legislate to allow for fathers to take two weeks’ paid paternal leave for the first time. The new statutory paternity leave is to be paid at a rate of €230 a week, the same as maternity benefit, and based on the same PRSI contribution requirements. It…

The result of the UK’s referendum on EU membership has deeply shocked Labour Youth.   National Chairperson of Labour Youth Grace Williams commented, “It is my firm belief that international cooperation is vital in tackling common global issues such as corporate tax evasion, climate change, and responding to the refugee crisis. As global citizens, we are…

I wish to express my extreme disappointment following the outcome of the UK referendum on EU membership. In time I think it will be seen as a tragedy for its people. While today is not the day for taking definitive positions – so much of what will happen now is unknown, our first obligation will…

Labour Spokesperson on Social Protection Deputy Willie Penrose has called on Minister Leo Varadkar to act to provide self-employed people with a fairer access to the social protection system. Speaking last night in Dáil Eireann, Deputy Penrose said, “During the period of the worst economic recession, the protection of the social welfare system was given…

Joan Burton TD commenting on Summer Economic Statement Under the Summer Economic Statement the share of public spending in GDP will decline from 28.9% in 2016 ( already one of the lowest in any advanced economy) to 25.3% in 2021. The share of gross current spending in GDP declines from 26.7% in 2016 to 22.6%…

Labour Party Spokesperson on Public Expenditure Sean Sherlock has called on the Government to follow through on the Dáil motion passed by the House calling on the Government to implement a Living Wage.  “The Labour Party has argued for a Living Wage,” stressed Deputy Sherlock, speaking on the Debate on the Summer Economic Statement published…

Earlier today on the Order of Business in Dáil Eireann I called for a big screen fan zone to be set up in Dublin on Sunday for the Ireland Vs France match.   I am delighted the government and Dublin City Council has accepted the Labour Party’s call and a big screen fan zone will…

Senator Ivana Bacik, Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, today expressed hope that the Remain side would prevail in the UK referendum on membership of the EU, taking place today. Speaking in the Seanad during a debate on the referendum, Senator Bacik said:  “As a Dublin University senator, I have many constituents who are Trinity graduates…

Following Ireland’s fantastic EURO 2016 result last night I am calling on Dublin City Council to provide family friendly big screen viewings in Dublin City. The match against France takes place on Sunday afternoon and appropriate facilities should be provided to allow families to enjoy the game in a safe and atmospheric way.  Everyone remembers…

The inclusion of student accommodation in the Labour Party Social and Affordable Housing Bill which was launched today has been warmly welcomed by Labour Youth, among a wide range of other issues tackled in this Bill which is intended to be tabled in the Dáil as soon as possible. National Chairperson of Labour Youth, Grace…

Speaking to Housing Stakeholders at launch of Labour’s Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016 Today’s event is significant for a number of reasons. First of all it gives all of us in this room an opportunity not only to identify the issues that face the housing sector, but also to put forward genuine, workable solutions,…

Prioritises regressive tax plans Today’s long awaited Summer Economic Statement proposes a Rainy Day Fund at a time when the country is barely getting into stronger recovery mode. It would have been much more appropriate to prioritise better public services at this stage of the recovery. The tax package in the plan launched today appears…

The revelation in The Herald newspaper on Monday, 13 June, by Gerry O’Carroll, former Garda Detective, that Eamon Cooke, who is the main suspect in the disappearance of the thirteen year-old schoolboy Philip Carins, was given an official Garda code designated “Alpha Seven” is a remarkable piece of information and begs a host of questions….

  Children benefit from meeting and getting to know children from various backgrounds and religions. Diversity in our schools is an opportunity for our society, not something we should feel threatened by. All members of this house will have heard the anecdotal evidence of parents feeling forced to baptise their children to secure a school…

Launching the Labour Party’s ‘Richard O’Carroll Empowerment Bursary’, Chairperson of Labour’s 1916 Commemoration Committee, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has invited students to apply for the bursary awarded for the upcoming 2016-17 academic year. The bursary, worth €2,000, is named after the leader of the Labour Group on Dublin Corporation who was killed during the Easter…

Following the visit of the Taoiseach and some of his Cabinet Minsters to the North Inner City last week, the Taoiseach has invited public representatives to meet him in Government Buildings tomorrow, Monday 20 June 2016.  It would be churlish not to welcome the Taoiseach’s visit and  to accept in good faith his personal commitment to take…

I welcome today’s publication of TASC research showing that ‘flexibility’ is being imposed by employers on more and more workers, across a range of different industry sectors.  The research complements and updates findings in the report I published last November on zero and low hours contracts and their impact on employees.  While last year’s study…

Labour Youth is deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Jo Cox yesterday following a brutal attack in her constituency.  National Chairperson of Labour Youth, Grace Williams commented: “It was very upsetting to learn of the news of the death of Jo Cox. It is alarming to hear that any political activist…

We were so saddened to hear of the death of Jo Cox MP yesterday and we send our sincere condolences to her husband Brendan, her two young children and all her family and friends.  We would also like to express our condolences and solidarity to our sisters in the Labour Women’s Network in the UK…

Labour Equality members are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Jo Cox MP. Jo Cox was a staunch and courageous advocate for social justice. She stood up for peace in Syria and advocated for the innocent children affected by the conflict. We do not fully know the events which lead to her death….