Type: Press

Dublin Bay South Labour Party TD Minister Kevin Humphreys has said Sinn Féin’s jobs plan will lead to jobs being lost, not created. Minister Humphreys commented: “In order for jobs to be created the economy has to be managed responsibly. Sinn Féin’s jobs plan shows they are utterly incapable of doing this. “Sinn Féin wants…

Fianna Fáil’s proposed childcare support credit is ill thought-out, limited and would have the opposite effect to delivering affordable childcare. Our young children deserve better as do the professionals that care for them. Tax credits are not a guarantee of reduced costs for parents. International evidence shows that childcare services have used such credits as…

Earlier today, Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister for Primary Health Care Kathleen Lynch launched Labour’s healthcare plan ‘Towards a new National Community Health Service’.   The Labour Party’s plan will: Introduce universal GP care Move closer to universal health care Progressing smarter strategies for tackling the waiting lists crisis and A&E overcrowding Reduce the costs…

The news today that gangland figures have issued death threats against Independent News and Media journalists is a very disturbing development, and is an unwelcome reminder of the callous murder of Veronica Guerin 20 years ago I would like to offer my support to the journalists who have been subject to these alarming threats. I…

Fianna Fáil’s proposed childcare policies fall short of ensuring our country’s young children get the best possible start in life. Fianna Fáil’s childcare support credit excludes many families and would do little for those who work less than 25hours per week. Their proposals would directly affect teachers who are contracted to work 23 hours per…

Earlier today Fianna Fáil launched their manifesto and working families around the country will be disappointed to see Fianna Fáil’s continued opposition to free GP care for young children.   When free GP for children under six was first introduced, one Fianna Fáil TD astonishingly described the policy as “reprehensible, immoral and nauseating.” Yet, for…

This Government’s package of legislation to improve workers’ pay and conditions has brought about the most significant shift in the industrial relations landscape in many years, and it would not have happened without Labour in Government, Ged Nash TD Minister for Business and Employment said this evening [Thursday the 11th February].  He said his party’s…

Labour launches new affordable housing plan Labour’s plan for housing, ‘Making Homes Affordable’, was launched in Limerick City this morning by Ministers Alan Kelly and Jan O’Sullivan. Both Ministers visited a social housing development on Lord Edward Street in the city this morning, before formally launching the policy. Specifically, the party’s affordable homes plan will:…

At a time when we have the fastest growing economy in Europe it astonishing that a party claiming to be social democratic would not see fit to propose an increase in the minimum wage. Yet at the launch of his proposals for small business today Stephen Donnelly emphatically stated that he and his colleagues do…

Today’s series of proposals on crime unveiled by Fianna Fail are yet another example of them trying to pretend that the past did not happen. It was Fianna Fail who introduced a freeze on garda recruitment. It was Fianna Fail who closed Templemore Garda Training College. It was Fianna Fail who were in power when…

This morning Labour formally launched its plan for quality and affordable childcare. ‘Standing Up For Families’ commits to introducing low-cost, quality childcare for all under 12s, to dramatically increase the level of spending on early years education and childcare, and to develop a skilled childcare workforce with decent pay and fair conditions. Tanaiste Joan Burton…

On a television debate last night, Richard Boyd Barrett, sided with Sinn Féin, and called for the abolition of the special criminal court. “I believe it wrong to call for an end to the Special Criminal Court. It is an integral part of our criminal justice system, as is evident from the recent shootings on…

Once again Micheal Martin has snubbed a Fianna Fail health policy launch today. He is clearly ducking and diving questions on health because he can’t credibly stand over his own appalling record as Health Minister. It’s the second time in just over two weeks that Martin has been notably absent from the unveiling of a…

Listening to Sinn Fein tie itself in knots about the Special Criminal Court begs the question as to who is dictating the party’s strategy on this issue. There are very few issues on which the party is prepared to flout public opinion and overwhelming evidence. They are running an election on the nature of a…

Sinn Fein’s proposal in their General Election manifesto to have one-third of all TDs selected from a party list system opens the way for characters like their ‘good republican’ friend Slab Murphy appointed to the Dail. They claim that this move is required in order to bring about a ‘new culture’ in Irish politics. Well,…

The Labour Party this morning launched its plan for a living wage and investing in skills, ‘Launching a Skills Revolution’. The plan commits to:  • Create 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship places over the next five years. We will also develop an additional 60 apprenticeship types to ensure a far broader range of possibilities for young people.  • Introduce 100,000…

The killing of a man in Ballybough, in the heart of my constituency, yesterday evening is a chilling reminder of the threat that exists in our city from ruthless gangsters. This killing appears to be retaliation for the especially ruthless murder which took place in the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra, a short distance away, on Friday….

I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms tonight’s latest gangland murder in Dublin’s north inner city. This incident is clearly linked to last Friday’s killing, and our priority must be to ensure that this feud does not escalate. We will give An Garda Siochana all the necessary support to find those responsible. Communities…

STRICT EMBARGO: 00:01 TUES 9TH FEBRUARY 2016 The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD and the Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD have welcomed the announcement by Cornmarket Group Financial Services that it is to become a Living Wage employer. The financial services brokerage is committing to ensuring all of its staff is paid  at the very least the  Living Wage  from the 1st of…

Fianna Fáil – the architects of the dreaded Universal Social Charge (USC) unveiled their tax plans today. A leopard doesn’t change its spots and unsurprisingly Fianna Fáil’s tax plans will favour wealthy people over low and middle income workers. Their tax plans have no claw-back mechanism to ensure that higher earners pay their fair share….

Sinn Fein announced their plans earlier today to abolish the property tax which will come as welcome news to the millionaire property owners who stand to gain most. The property tax is a progressive tax on wealth because the more expensive your property the more you pay in tax. The revenue raised goes to local…

Earlier today Fianna Fail accused the Labour Party of not doing enough to combat crime. This politically motivated attack simply does not stand up to scrutiny. It was Fianna Fail in government who closed Templemore Garda College when they stopped recruiting Gardai. Friday’s brutal gangland slaying in a hotel in the heart of my own constituency…

Labour’s proposal to favour a 3:1 split between public services investment and tax reform is a strong, clear offering – unlike what Fianna Fail are putting on the table. To put it bluntly, we are the only party with a clear message on prioritising investment over tax reductions. Labour is proposing that for every €1…

STATEMENT BY TANAISTE JOAN BURTON Monday, February 8th 2016     LABOUR LAUNCHES PLAN FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS   The Labour Party this morning launched its plan for economic and social progress, ‘A Strong Economy for a Decent Society’.   The plan is built on three pillars: improving living standards for working people; creating…