Type: Press

“As Minister for Communications, I am hugely aware of the importance of the digital sector to Ireland’s future prosperity. Digital activity already accounts for more than 5% of our economic activity, and supports around 100,000 jobs. That’s why it’s so important for political parties to have a clear, thought-out approach for this area. “Before Labour…

The Sinn Féin Deputy Leader, Mary Lou McDonald has described the prospect of a Fine Gael Fianna Fail Government as a ‘nightmare scenario’. But it is a ‘nightmare scenario’ that Sinn Fein are prepared to do nothing about. When asked about whether Sinn Fein would enter Government she cited possible deals with independents while conceding…

Cllr. Mark Wall, Dáil candidate for Kildare South, has welcomed Labour’s commitments to the Defence Forces as outlined in the party’s defence policy document. “As someone from a part of the country where so many servicemen and women make their home, I strongly welcome the measures outlined by the Labour Party in this area. “For…

Fianna Fail is again attempting today to re-write history on their record in government on tackling crime and supporting victims of crime.  Fianna Fail is desperately hoping that the Irish people will forget that it was they who introduced a freeze on garda recruitment. It was Fianna Fail who closed Templemore Garda Training College.  It…

Minister for Mental Health, Primary Care and Social Care (Disabilities and Older People), Kathleen Lynch, has today announced an increase in pay for certain student nurses and midwives, arising from the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The decision was taken in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin. It means an increase in…

Deputy Willie Penrose has supported a new plan by Labour to ensure equal access to education for all children. Speaking today, Deputy Penrose said: “A key question in this election is how we ensure every Westmeath and Longford child has the best possible start in life.  To ensure every child has equality of opportunity, equal…

Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister Kevin Humphreys this morning launched the Labour Party’s plan for equal access to education. Speaking at the launch in Shellybanks Educate Together, Dublin, Tánaiste Joan Burton commented: “For the Labour Party, equality is the keystone of what we believe. To ensure every child has equality of opportunity, to ensure every…

The Labour Party is today outlining its proposals to increase the take-home pay of low to middle income working people. Labour’s proposed tax plan of changes to USC and PRSI will mean that those on average earnings will benefit most from the recovery that we have delivered. The proposal has three main elements: We will…

Speaking at the launch of ‘Standing Up For Public Services’ Labour has this morning unveiled its plan for public service investment. ‘Standing Up For Public Services’ was launched by Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, Brendan Howlin, and Minister for Business & Employment, Ged Nash, at Labour’s campaign headquarters. The plan commits to: Invest in…

Fianna Fail’s attempts to revise their record on education in government are laughable. Even when the country was awash with money, Fianna Fáil thought it was ok to continue to have children taught in prefabs that are too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Labour in government is ensuring that prefab education ends…

Working families across Ireland will be disappointed to see that the only relief being offered to them under Sinn Fein’s economic proposals is a dodgy offer to abolish water charges.  Incredibly, a worker earning just €19,572 or over will get absolutely no relief from USC under Sinn Fein.   Instead their claim they will abolish water…

Tánaiste Joan Burton today outlined Labour’s plans to stand up for women in the workplace, at home and in the community. Launching Labour’s plan for equality today, Joan Burton said, if re-elected to Government, Labour will tackle gender pay issues by ensuring large companies and public sector employers make public the details their own internal…

The Labour Party today launched its plan to hold a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment. Minister for Communications, Alex White, Minister for Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin,  and Senator Ivana Bacik outlined how the party would deliver a referendum, and campaign strongly to repeal the 8th amendment, if returned to Government. Speaking at the launch…

Gerry Adams’ embarrassing performance on a major national interview broadcast this morning should make Irish people relieved that he and his party are not offering themselves for government. Over the course of the interview he tied himself in knots on the most basic details of his own tax policy, which the interviewer had a much…

It is welcome today to see Fianna Fáil commit to the creation of 250,000 jobs over the next five years, given that this is precisely the number of jobs that were lost under their watch from 2008-2011. Their jobs proposals concentrate on boosting employment across the SME sector, but this was precisely the area that…

Minister Ged Nash has welcomed the decision of the SIPTU National Executive Council to call on voters to back Labour in the election to ensure a balanced government. The Minister for Business & Employment and Labour’s candidate in Louth/East Meath said: “This election is one of the most important in the history of the state….

Today Labour launched its plan for arts, culture and heritage in the Project Arts Centre in Dublin.   ‘Standing up for Irish Culture’, was officially launched by Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister for Culture Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Minister of State for Social Protection Kevin Humphreys, who were accompanied by Artistic Director of the Druid Theatre…

Labour is the only party with a proven track record of delivering social and economic progress for all. In this government we delivered a marriage equality referendum, legislated for the X Case and made our gender recognition laws among the most progressive in the world. We want to continue this vital work as part of…

A ‘Brexit’ from the EU would seriously destabilise the economic recovery, according to Labour TD Dominic Hannigan.  Hannigan, who is Chair of Labour’s European Affairs Committee, said: “I am glad to see positive developments are emerging in Europe this morning and that negotiations on a Brexit deal do appear to be going well. “Irish people should…

Labour has launched its plan for investment and reform of Ireland’s education system in Limerick today. 
 The plan, ‘Standing Up for Education’, was launched by Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan. 
 Among the provisions within the plan are commitments to: 
 Deliver the smallest class sizes in the history of…

The Labour Party this morning launched its election manifesto, ‘Standing Up for Ireland’s Future’. There are three core principles which underpin Labour’s manifesto – invest in services, reduce tax burden on working families and stand up for a modern and inclusive Ireland. The overriding principle is to invest in the services which people and communities…

On radio this afternoon, Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams suggested that low to middle income workers would be better off under Sinn Féin. Nothing could be further from the truth and is another example of Sinn Fein’s Gerrynomics. Sinn Féin’s refusal to consider USC reform makes its policies onerous on low to middle income earners….

If Fianna Fail did mind games, they’d probably be the best mind games in the world.   Micheal Martin and his band of magic men are trying to trick people into thinking that 2011 was year zero for Fianna Fail – as if they are newcomers to the game with all the solutions but none…

Earlier today, Minister Aodhán Ó Riordáin and Senator Lorraine Higgins launched Labour’s plan for community policing and reform of justice, ‘Standing Up for Safer Communities’. Labour Senator Máiría Cahill was also in attendance and outlined the Labour Party’s proposals on domestic and sexual violence. The Labour Party’s plan will: Recruit an additional 700 Gardaí each…