Type: Press

Cork South Central Labour TD Ciarán Lynch, welcomed the news that funding of €50,000 has been confirmed for Cork International Choral Festival this week, saying that it would help the event to expand and grow into the future. Deputy Lynch added: “This vital funding, approved by Fáilte Ireland under its 2016 National Festivals and Events…

The public confidence in and the credibility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is completely shot following last night’s Prime Time investigation. The programme completely exposed the failings and shortcomings in the corporate culture, governance, reliability and competence of the EPA as it is currently constituted. Underpinned by legislation the EPA is virtually unaccountable and…

“We need to put the same effort into highlighting Ireland as a global arts and culture centre as we do as a business location” The Tánaiste and Leader of the Labour Party, Joan Burton TD, is proposing to host a major Global Arts Forum for Ireland and believes work on it should get underway by…

I welcome the announcement that the Springboard + Initiative in Higher Education is offering free courses in Cork and elsewhere around the country this term in a number of different and growing sectors. Springboard + Initiative is an opportunity for people out of work to get a foot back on the ladder of education and…

I am calling on Sinn Fein TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh to state whether or not he supports the comments of his Northern colleague and Education Minister John O’Dowd, telling people to think very carefully about entering the teaching profession. Speaking yesterday, Minister O’Dowd said that due to the budget cuts that Sinn Fein negotiated, agreed,…

Micheal Martin, the man whose election campaign is about whether he can remain (supposed) leader of the opposition, claims Fianna Fáil are a bit to the left. Historically, he says. Ancient history more like. Nearly a hundred years more like. He claims Fine Gael are a right wing party. There is no end to his…

Minister for Education and Skills and Labour TD for Limerick City, Jan O’Sullivan, today warmly welcomed the establishment of a Jigsaw, a new youth mental service for Limerick. “Jigsaw is a fantastic service, provided by the organisation Headstrong. It is already making a very positive impact on youth mental health in ten communities across the…

Labour TD Ciaran Lynch has welcomed news that retail sales have increased 9.3% in the last 12 months, according to fresh CSO figures released this afternoon. Deputy Lynch said: “From October to November this year, the volume of retail sales rose by 2.2.%, with electrical goods and department store sales showing the strongest growth. “Overall,…

It has become increasingly clear this week that the recovery we are now experiencing in Ireland is not only jobs-rich, but is one that is taking hold in all regions across the country. Today we see where IDA Ireland, the Government agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment, has announced that total employment in overseas…

I was saddened to hear of the sudden death of golf legend, Christy O’Connor Jnr. My thoughts first and foremost are with his wife Ann, children, Nigel and Ann along with his extended family and friends. Christy led a very active and full life; he achieved great successes as a golfer. He competed in over…

The Government has today announced that it will increase the Direct Provision Allowance (DPA) for children by an additional €6.00 per week. This will bring the allowance to €15.60 per week for each child. The increase to the allowance will directly benefit children and their families living in Direct Provision centres and those coming to…

Cork South West Labour Party TD Michael McCarthy has welcomed the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office which show that 29,000 more people are in work than in December 2014. Deputy McCarthy commented: “The fact that so many more people are back in work than in December 2014 again demonstrates that Labour’s plan to…

 The Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD has welcomed new unemployment figures published today which show that unemployment is continuing to fall. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the unemployment rate for December 2015 was 8.8%.  This is down significantly from the same period last year, when the jobless…

On foot of last night’s RTE documentary on the closure of Clerys department store, Dublin Central Labour Party TD Joe Costello has reiterated his call on the owners of Clerys, Natrium, to meet with the former workers to negotiate a fair redundancy package.  Deputy Costello commented: “On the 12th June 2015 Natrium bought Clerys and…

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, T.D., has welcomed CSO figures today which show unemployment is at its lowest level in seven years. Unemployment fell in December by 700 to 190,600, or 8.8%, down from a rate of 10.2% in December 2014. The Tánaiste commented: “Today’s figures confirm the pattern of a continued…

Labour Youth has today reaffirmed its position on tackling precarious work by making a submission to the expert consultation group which will look into legislation to end the use of If and When Contracts, as recommended by a study conducted by the University of Limerick.  National Chairperson of Labour Youth, Grace Williams comments: “It is…

Labour’s Joanna Tuffy is encouraging people to recycle household goods following the Christmas break and to dispose of their trees properly. Deputy Tuffy stated: “Now that the holiday period is over, many people will be spending this week getting their homes ready for Spring. During this time, it’s important that people remember to dispose of…

Labour Youth welcomes the implementation of the minimum wage increase from today which come on top of reductions in USC for low-earners, that were introduced as part of Budget 2016. National Chairperson, Grace Williams, says on the issue: “Labour Youth is delighted that the minimum wage is increasing in 2016 from €8.65 to €9.15 an…

Accountability in policing in Ireland has taken a massive step forward today as the Garda Authority is formally established. An Garda Siochana has served this country extremely well since the foundation of the state, but as the demands on the force become more complex it has become even more important that the force operates within…