Type: Press

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyFears 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,…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyMinister 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyIBEC 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyThe 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyThe 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyThis 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour 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….

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyFollowing 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartySpeaking 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…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartySpeaking on behalf of Parliamentary Labour Party Narrow political self-interest has trumped fair play and sound policy, with compliant taxpayers squeezed in the middle in the deal hatched between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. It seems to me that the two priorities of this document…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyNumber of people unemployed falls by 25,700 The Tánaiste and Labour Party leader, Joan Burton T.D., has welcomed new CSO data showing unemployment down to 8.4% in April, a drop of 1.3% since the same time last year. The number of people unemployed fell by…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyLabour Party Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on the Minister for Health to intervene immediately in the dispute over the location of a new National Maternity Hospital. Senator Humphreys commented: “Further delays to a new National Maternity Hospital being built are completely unacceptable. I am…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyI would like to congratulate Senators Ivana Bacik, Kevin Humphreys, Denis Landy, Ged Nash, and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, all of whom won seats for the Labour Party in the 25th Seanad. The fact that we achieved a clean sweep, with all our vocational panel candidates…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyIt was with great sadness that I heard of the death of James Downey, and my sympathies today are with his wife, Moira and his daughters Rachel and Vanessa. Jim was without doubt one of Ireland’s finest journalists and he served as a distinguished newsman…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyI have followed today’s proceedings with great interest. It has been reassuring to hear the general consensus across the House on this very important strategic issue for Ireland. Although the outcome of this referendum is for the people of the United Kingdom to decide, today’s…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartySpeaking in Dail Eireann On Statements On EU/UK Relations Ceann Comhairle, In recent years, with the EU institutions appearing to be led more by head than heart, many people have begun to question the wisdom of the project. The fundamental importance of union has slipped…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartySpeaking after today’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party The people in the course of the recent election gave a mandate to particular parties to go ahead and form a government, and eight weeks on, it is now incumbent on those parties to do just…

Press Archives – Page 166 of 174 – The Labour PartyWillie Penrose TD has written to Tesco Ireland seeking them to withdraw their threat to unilaterally change their workers conditions of employment, including pay cuts. “I am calling upon Tesco to accept the invitation of the Unions representing workers to attend the Labour Court in…