Type: Press

Taoiseach unable to answer questions regarding licensees Raising the operation of the renters tax credit with An Taoiseach today, Labour Leader Ivana Bacik called for clarity as to who qualifies for the benefit. Deputy Bacik said people who have renting on the basis of a licence rather than a standard tenancy are none the wiser…

• Dáil will debate Labour motion demanding pay rise for Section 39 care workers on Wednesday Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said rather than a grant bridging the gap for people, as proposed by the Tánaiste last week in response to questioning by Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Section 39 workers must be put on the…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has today (Monday, 10th October) on World Mental Health Day urged the government to take a lead in ending the stigma surrounding mental health by introducing a Mental Health funding grant of €20 per pupil in schools, and to adequately resource Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) once and…

Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik TD has today (Monday, 10th October) paid tribute to Billy Kyne and extended her sympathies to his family, friends, Waterford Labour comrades, and former colleagues on Waterford County Council and Dungarvan Town Council. Deputy Bacik said: “Billy was a dedicated public representative who gave all his working life to our…

The delivery of 578 public homes in St. Michael’s Estate will be transformative for people in Dublin 8, said Labour Councillor Darragh Moriarty. Welcoming the formal lodging of planning for the regeneration of St. Michael’s Estate, Cllr Moriarty said projects like St. Michael’s will be vital in giving people an opportunity to live in their…

Labour spokesperson for Workers Rights, Senator Marie Sherlock has today (Wednesday 5th October) warmly welcomed the work of the High-Level Group on Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations and said the ball is now firmly in the Government’s court to implement the very clear, incisive and landmark recommendations. Senator Sherlock said: “Labour wants to see the…

Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said building homes cannot be a casualty of rising interest rates. With Housing for All failing to hit any of its markers, Senator Moynihan said government must take serious measures to build homes this year. Senator Moynihan said: “Government must insulate social housing providers from interest rate hikes. With the…

Labour defence spokesperson Mark Wall has demanded a debate on the future of the Defence Forces in the Seanad. Speaking following the Budget, Senator Wall said there is a crisis in the Forces at present, with Force numbers heading below 8,000 for the first time in many years. Senator Wall said: “The single biggest threat…

Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Annie Hoey said the paltry increase of €500 in stipends for PhD staff will leave workers below the breadline. Senator Hoey said until a Living Wage is provided to all PhD staff we will continue to see an exodus of researchers from this country. Senator Hoey said: “The…

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said today that the Budget produced by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is little more than a Treadmill Budget – just running to stand still. Deputy Bacik said: “Yesterday’s Budget presented the Government with an opportunity to provide a lifeline to the tens of thousands of people for whom Ireland now…

Admission they don’t look at profitability of sectors with most minimum wage workers Labour’s Worker’s rights spokesperson Marie Sherlock has today (Wednesday, 28th September) expressed grave concerns over the Low Pay Commission’s admission about how they assess the appropriate national minimum wage. Speaking following a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise Trade and…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has today (Wednesday, 28th September) called on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly to urgently intervene over the non-payment of the pandemic recognition payment due to tens of thousands of health workers. Deputy Smith said: “36 weeks after it was announced to much fanfare by the Government, the fact that…

As a country, we are unrecognisable from the young, poor and conservative State we were when the tricolour was first raised over Dublin Castle in 1922. We are now richer than we have ever been in our history. More liberal, open, diverse, welcoming and confident as a society than anyone could have imagined even half…

€20 increase must be provided Labour social protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock has demanded that government meet the rate of inflation and provide a €20 increase to social welfare payments. Speaking in advance of Budget 2023, Deputy Sherlock said double payments must made in October and December to give people a chance this winter. Deputy Sherlock…

Labour Alternative Budget aims to make work pay End low pay and introduce immediate minimum wage increase  Embed flexibility from the start in employment contracts  Labour employment spokesperson Marie Sherlock said there is a crisis in the world of work for thousands of women throughout the country. Through a lack of action on affordable childcare,…

Windfall Tax to be redistributed to those who need it most Energy price cap to keep the heat on for households Emergency eviction ban while supply comes on stream Launching its Alternative Budget today (Thursday 22nd September) Labour has demanded a radical package of measures to protect households this winter. Speaking today, Labour finance spokesperson…

Thousands of care and community sector workers taking strike action this week deserve better than a Government which continually seeks to dodge its responsibilities towards them and those who rely on the vital services they provide, says Labour Health Spokesman, Duncan Smith. After a visiting a picket line held by hundreds of SIPTU, Forsa and…

Commission recommendations align with Party’s call for a renewed focus on taxes on wealth Responding to the publication of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare’s report, Labour Finance Spokesperson Ged Nash said: “The Tax and Welfare Commission report is an honest, independent assessment of how our taxation and welfare system needs to be reorientated and…

Questioning the Taoiseach in the Dáil today, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said people need State intervention to tackle spiralling energy prices. Urging Government to take a three-pronged approach to safeguard against huge bills, Deputy Bacik said radical thinking is needed, calling for consideration of the nationalisation of the Corrib gas field. Deputy Bacik said: “Emergency…

Drogheda’s Premier Periclase plant ‘canary in coalmine’ as redundancy notices set to be issued Planned energy supports won’t be sufficient to stave off job losses in industry  Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash has called today (Tuesday, 7th September) on the government to create a new short-term wage support scheme to help protect jobs and firms most at…

Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Senator Annie Hoey has today (Monday 5th September) said that the escalating student accommodation crisis and the soaring cost-of-living for students must be addressed in Budget 2023. Speaking following the publication of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) pre-budget submission, Senator Hoey said: “The student accommodation crisis…

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has today (Friday, 2nd September) said that the government must act urgently to tackle spiralling energy prices by introducing immediate price caps on energy bills, establishing a windfall tax on the excessive profits of energy and gas companies and increasing fuel allowance eligibility limits for people on low to middle incomes….

Following the broadcasting of a Liveline programme today (Thursday, 1st September), during which the consolidation of the Citizens Information Service was discussed, Leader of the Labour Party and TD for Dublin Bay South Ivana Bacik has renewed her calls for a halt to the further diminishing of the service. Deputy Bacik said, “I am concerned…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has today (Wednesday, 1st September) written to the Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Deputy Josepha Madigan seeking an emergency meeting with education spokespeople of all opposition parties to discuss the situation of school places for children with special educational needs. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The Milne…