Type: Press

The Technological Universities Bill must be progressed in the Oireachtas without delay, Jan O’Sullivan told the Dail today. “As Minister for Education, I got the Bill as far as Report Stage in the Dail before the general election and it is imperative that it moves as quickly as possible. “Already the consortium in Dublin has…

When the Water Services Act 2014 was being drafted Labour ensured that there was a provision in the legislation to guarantee that the utility and the infrastructure associated with it, would remain in public ownership, by stipulating that there could be no sale of the assets without a referendum. In the context of a Government…

Labour TD for Wexford and former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, has welcomed the official publication of the Benefacts website which brings information about Ireland’s not for profit sector into a single online database. Deputy Howlin commented: “This is a project I was particularly pleased to advance as Minister for Public Expenditure…

Speaking on behalf of the Labour Party Deputy Sean Sherlock commented: “The Labour Party intends to support the passage of the Fianna Fáil Variable Rate Mortgage Bill to committee stage. “In the spirt of the new dispensation that exists in Dáil Eireann Labour believes that this Bill, is worthy of further discussion at committee stage….

Labour Party Leader Joan Burton TD said today that the law does not prevent Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan from clarifying the instructions she gave her legal team at the O’Higgins Commission of Investigation. She said there was serious public disquiet about the claim that, although in public Ms Sullivan had said Sergeant Maurice McCabe had…

Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has joined calls for the government to appoint a dedicated Drugs Minister this week. “The drugs crisis that is affecting every corner of this country needs a dedicated drugs minister to tackle it. “I was proud as Drugs Minister in the last government to be able to pursue new policies…

It is completely unacceptable for Minister Finian McGrath to argue that the smoking ban in public places should be relaxed. Speaking on national radio this morning Finian McGrath stated that pubs and restaurants should be allowed to reintroduce designated smoking areas. I believe as a society we should do our upmost to discourage people from…

Taoiseach Cannot Appoint Bill-Dodging Halligan As Junior Minister – Kelly Taoiseach Enda Kenny must seek a guarantee from John Halligan that he will comply with the law by paying for his water. In the absence of such a guarantee, it would be completely unacceptable for the Taoiseach to appoint Deputy Halligan as a Minister of…

The previous Government was faced with a breakdown of public trust in the ability of our policing institutions to properly police themselves and their own members. The Government inherited a system involving a ‘confidential recipient’, to whom Gardaí were supposed to submit concerns about malpractice, that was shown to be manifestly unfit for purpose. It…

Fears expressed by arts practitioners this week, that the arts have been downgraded and sidelined in the new government department configuration, seem to be well founded. Not only has the arts portfolio been further diluted by cramming more and more responsibilities into the same department, but the Programme for Government published this week is sadly…

Labour Party TD Alan Kelly has called on UK citizens living in Ireland to register to vote in the upcoming Brexit referendum. Deputy Kelly commented: “The Brexit referendum has profoundly significant ramifications for Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. The Labour Party firmly believes in the UK remaining in the European Union. “The…

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone must make clear her opposition to Programme for Government plans to link child benefit payments to school attendance and take steps to make sure the proposal is nipped in the bud. Under this plan, children who miss school, usually as a result of complex domestic and family issues, would be…

Labour Party Leader Joan Burton has said the Programme for Government shows this government is going to be one which lacks ambition, is unfair and afraid to tackle the big issues of our time. Deputy Burton commented: “The Programme for Government represents a bad deal for Ireland. It is incredibly irresponsible there are no costings…

Labour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has accused Fianna Fáil of blatant hypocrisy by attacking Fine Gael over linking child benefit to school attendance, when they are the party propping up Fine Gael in government. Senator Humphreys commented: “I am completely opposed to linking child benefit to school attendance. It is a highly regressive and impractical…

IBEC SHOULD BE CONDEMNING THE ACTIONS OF THOSE WHO CLOSED DOWN CLERYS, NOT THE MOVES TO PUNISH THEM AND PROTECT WORKERS  Labour Party Senator Ged Nash has hit out at comments by employers’ body IBEC which is warning against the introduction of new legislation aimed at preventing situations such as the liquidation of Clerys.    IBEC was responding…

The Labour Party today published its Water Charges (Fair Treatment of Customers) Bill 2016. The purpose of this Bill is to ensure that, in the event of water charges being suspended, there should be fair treatment as between the majority who paid their water charges and those who did not. This Bill provides for the…

Labour Party Senator Ivana Bacik has said the government clearly does not care about repealing the 8th amendment because it has not committed to a referendum on the issue. Senator Ivana Bacik stated: “The publication of the Programme for Government will come as a major disappointment to those who want to liberalise women’s reproductive rights….

The deliberate removal from the Programme for Government, of any commitment to implement the recommendations of the McMahon report on Direct Provision is beyond disappointing. It is in fact a betrayal of the thousands of people who have found themselves languishing in Direct Provision Centres all around the country. In Government Labour oversaw the publication…

Labour Party Senator Ged Nash has said the government has abandoned low paid workers by not supporting a living wage. Senator Nash commented: “I am disappointed but not surprised that there are no plans for a living wage in the programme for government. I think it is deeply ironic that a government which has said…

Labour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed Minister Finian McGrath’s U-turn in support of cigarette taxes. Senator Humphreys commented: “Finian McGrath used to be staunchly opposed to cigarette taxes. Just last year in the Dáil, McGrath described cigarette taxes as punitive and populist. He was also a vocal critic of the successful smoking ban in…

This afternoon I informed my colleagues in the Labour Parliamentary Party that I intend to stand down as Leader of the party once my successor is elected. I have asked that the Executive Board of the party immediately make arrangements for the election of the new Leader under the provisions of the party constitution. I…

Labour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has expressed concern that the economic and social progress achieved in urban areas will be side-lined by the new government. Senator Humphreys commented: “It is important that every government places equal importance on the needs of rural and urban Ireland. This is why the previous government designed a comprehensive jobs…

Following the news that President Obama is considering establishing a national monument to honour the LGBT movement in America, I believe the Irish government should follow suit. It would be a fitting tribute to the hardship and discrimination LGBT people in Ireland have suffered in their fight for equality and serve as a call to…

Speaking on Dail Eireann Statements on Crime Ceann Comhairle, In recent weeks, we have seen a string of cold-blooded murders and attempted assassinations on the streets of Dublin. It is clear that the criminals behind this murderous feud have no compassion for life, no respect for society, and do not fear the State.  It is…