Type: Press

HSE commits to retaining and protecting the existing speech and language therapy service. Following a meeting today between Minister Rabbitte, HSE Dublin North City and County, the principal and parents of the School for the Deaf, Cabra and Senator Marie Sherlock; Senator Sherlock expressed her delight and relief at the major break-though for the school…

Supports must be maintained to help indigenous jobs and businesses. Vaccine programme crucial for jobs and business recovery. Plan needed to tackle youth unemployment levels . Responding to today’s publication of the Stability Programme Update, Labour’s Finance spokesperson Ged Nash said he wants to see a sustained focus on jobs and the domestic economy to address…

Responding to the news that Dublin has retained its position as the fifth most expensive city in Europe for expats to rent in, Labour housing spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan has called for a radical rethink of rental policy by the Government to protect young workers in particular. Coming in costlier than European cities like Rome,…

Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Annie Hoey has urged the Minister for Further and Higher Education to urgently assuage the concerns of young people studying abroad and ensure that no student is forced to pay for mandatory hotel quarantine if their travel is associated with education and training. Senator Hoey said: “It is…

In what scenarios might the benefit outweigh the risks? Following the publication of NIAC advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine yesterday, Labour Party Leader and Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has called for it to clarify a key statement in the conclusion about the use of the vaccine in under 60’s where it says it could…

Responding to the Meat Industry Ireland’s (MII) presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, committee member and Labour employment spokesperson Senator Marie Sherlock said that there are serious questions for the red meat sector in supporting an expansion of the employment permits system in Ireland. Senator Sherlock said: “MII have failed…

Concrete plan needed to ensure 80% target of first dose by end of June is met. Is Ireland following NIAC or EMA advice on vaccines? Responding to the news that the AstraZeneca vaccine would be restricted to those over 60, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly has sought assurances that 80% of the adult population would…

Labour spokesperson on Finance Ged Nash has welcomed news that motor insurance costs are likely to come down after a landmark move to approve guidelines that will lead to a cut in personal injury awards.  “Finally we are set to see a change to the payouts associated with personal injury claims which will benefit us…

Mallow based TD for Cork East, Labour’s Sean Sherlock has received assurances from the CEO of the South / South West Hospital Group that services will continue as normal at the Medical Assessment Unit and the Local Injury Unit at Mallow General Hospital. Deputy Sherlock said: “I welcome this decision but this was a needless…

Following representations of the Irish Dental Association to the Health Committee yesterday, Senator Hoey called on Government to widen access to dental care by restoring the Dental Treatment Benefit scheme to pre-2009 levels. Listening to the concerns of the Association, Senator Hoey called on Government to examine the levels of dentists participating in the scheme…

Good news for Holy Family School for the Deaf Cabra, Carmona in Glenageary, St Columba’s in Cork and Rosedale, Galway Senator Marie Sherlock this evening welcomed the announcement by Minister for Disability Anne Rabbitte that she has instructed the HSE to pause the roll out of their “Progressing Disability Services” strategy (PDS). PDS is the…

Mallow based Labour Party TD Seán Sherlock has called on the HSE and the Fianna Fáil Minister for Health to reverse the decision to close the Medical Assessment Unit at Mallow General Hospital for one month. Deputy Sherlock said: “I’ve learned today that the HSE is now intent on closing the medical assessment unit of…

Responding to the violence in Belfast, Labour Party Northern Ireland spokesperson Brendan Howlin said genuine grievances impacting Unionists must be addressed but called on leaders to calm tensions and seek to address issues through dialogue. Deputy Howlin said: “The ongoing violence and rioting in parts of Northern Ireland is a very worrying situation and I…

Responding to the IMF proposal that high earners and companies that prospered throughout the pandemic should pay additional tax, Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash has called on Government to consider such a measure.  Deputy Nash said that as we look to rebuild our economy, Ireland has an opportunity to show ambition and build an economy…

Labour Housing, Local Government and Heritage spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan has called on the Minister for Housing to confirm that no national park, heritage site or the Phoenix Park will be at risk of compulsory purchase order under the measures proposed in the Land Development Bill. Senator Moynihan said:“The community value of the Phoenix Park,…

Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, has raised questions about why full vaccination rollout is not included in NPHET’s latest modelling. This comes as NPHET’s latest modelling projects that a moderate increase in close contacts between the 5th of April and the 30th of September would mean 578,000 cases and a peak of 9,500 cases…

Code of Practice doesn’t provide a legal right to disconnect, just guidance Labour Bill would enshrine legal right to switch off following best practice in other EU States Working from Home (Covid-19) Bill would address the issue of unsuitable home working spaces for employees The Code of Practice on the right to disconnect is a…

With pictures flooding social media that the good weather has led to a dramatic increase in littering, Labour Senator Mark Wall has highlighted the urgent need to progress the Labour Local Government (Use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill 2021 and urged people to responsibly dispose of their rubbish whilst out and about. Senator…

The Labour Party’s Equality Spokesperson, Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed an announcement from the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality & Integration that he will bring forward amendments to strengthen the Government’s Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 when it comes before the Dáil for Report Stage. She has called on him to adopt elements of…

Responding to the Government’s updated Covid response, Labour housing spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan called for urgent clarity on the eviction ban currently in place to protect renters. Senator Moynihan said that once the 5km restriction is lifted, many renters who remain out of work will become at risk of eviction, highlighting the strangeness of tying…

Responding to the announcement tonight from the Taoiseach, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly said that with a path forward announced on the lifting of restrictions, it is vital that the government provide greater transparency about the vaccination programme. Deputy Kelly said: “While the Taoiseach has announced a timetable of measures that will relax some restrictions…

Marking six months since the Government’s decision to delay Labour’s sick pay proposals, Labour’s spokesperson on Employment Affairs Senator Marie Sherlock said:  “The Labour Party brought forward a bill last September for statutory paid sick leave. Unfortunately, the Government voted to delay our bill for six months and this has left a continuing fundamental weakness…

Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) crucial to promoting much-needed accountability and trust in the Irish financial sector FSPO should be well-resourced and have sharp teeth to tackling financial malpractice, especially in wake of Covid-19 challenges Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash has welcomed today’s report from the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) and their…

A review on collective bargaining underway will start important conversations said Labour Employment spokesperson Marie Sherlock, but questioned the motives of such a review if there is no commitment from the government to improvements. Senator Sherlock said: “Ireland stands apart from most other EU member states in not having a right to be recognised for…