Type: Press

Labour Bill to pay student nurses and midwives to be debated this coming Friday in the Seanad. Labour Senator and Spokesperson for Higher and Further Education, Annie Hoey, has today secured the introduction of the Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2020 into Seanad Eireann. This bill purposes to pay student nurses and midwives at the same…

Labour spokesperson on defence Senator Mark Wall has urged all members of the Defence Forces to partake in a consultation set up by the Defence Forces Commission to have their voices heard. The Commission, appointed to undertake a comprehensive review of the Forces, is chaired by Aidan O’Driscoll with 14 other members from a range…

A €100m ‘Catch-Up for Children’ scheme is needed to make up for lost school days and related activities. There must be an assessment of the damage caused by school closures in 2020 and 2021. Support must be targeted at vulnerable children and young people, those from socioeconomic disadvantage and those with disabilities or other additional…

Central Bank figures show that interest rate rip-off for households and businesses continues unabated Caps on mortgage interest rates now required Public and community banking model needed to kick-start Covid-19 recovery.   Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash has said that today’s figures released by the Central Bank figures shows that the interest rate rip-off goes…

Speaking during the Labour Party’s Motion on the adoption of a National Aggressive Suppression Strategy, Labour Party Spokesperson on Social Protection, Seán Sherlock TD urged the Government to create a funding pot to fully research the impact of Long COVID and its effect on workers who have recovered initially from the virus. Deputy Sherlock said:…

Speaking after the first stage of the Pre-legislative scrutiny at the Housing Committee, Senator Rebecca Moynihan called on the Minister to specify how the proposals of the Affordable Housing Act comply with the Equal Status Act. Under the scheme of The Affordable Housing Bill, the Government is proposing to marginalise people in receipt of the…

Frontloading of tax bills not acceptable and unfair to hardest hit workers Labour Spokesperson on Social Protection Seán Sherlock TD has said that the Government must stop moving the goalposts during the game with revelations that PUP recipients this year who return to work will have to pay tax on payments immediately. Deputy Sherlock said:…

Launching the party’s Dáil motion on a National Aggressive Suppression Strategy, Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash called on Government to present its clear vision for economic supports and recovery post-Covid.  Deputy Nash said: “On two occasions, this Government has postponed the publication of the Natioanl Economic Plan, and we’re calling on the Government to provide…

The decision to extend medical cards for those with a terminal illness while overdue is very welcome said Labour Leader Alan Kelly, praising campaigner John Wall for his successful but long campaign. Deputy Kelly said: “I am delighted today that the vocal campaign by John Wall to secure medical cards for those with a terminal…

Speaking at the launch of a Labour Party motion to be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday calling for a National Aggressive Suppression Strategy for Covid-19, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly called on the Government to bring forward a coherent plan adopting a ‘Zero Covid’ approach. Deputy Kelly said: “It’s very clear listening to the…

Labour Seanad Group Leader and Party Spokesperson for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Senator Ivana Bacik has called on the Government to introduce a catch-up scheme, as in other jurisdictions, for children in Ireland.  This scheme would provide funding to address the severe impacts upon children due to losing significant time at school and engagement…

Education programme targeted at young people needed to change online culture. With the commencement later today of his Private Members Bill, now law, to tackle online harassment and harmful communications, Labour Party Justice spokesperson Brendan Howlin paid tribute to campaigners like Jackie Fox, and said the next challenge was to change online culture. Deputy Howlin…

This morning in the Seanad, Labour Senators put down a commencement matter on ‘the need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to implement a ban on the development of co-living schemes where construction has not yet commenced.’   Today, Monday 8th February, Labour Senators have expressed their concern to the Minister of…

Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, has called on the Government to allocate funds to recruit more driving testers in order to clear the massive backlog that now exists.  This comes as figures released by Parliamentary Question to Deputy Kelly reveal that 64,467 people are currently waiting to sit their driving test. Deputy Kelly said:…

Announcement of new payment is just Job Seekers by another name. FG during election said transition payment would be at rate of State Pension. Full transition payment still needed. Responding to the announcement today by the Minister for Social Protection of a revised benefit payment, Labour Social Protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock highlighted that it would…

Labour housing spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan has called on the Government to publish how cost rental costs are arrived at. Following the announcement by Minister O’Brien that three Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) had received approval for the State’s first cost rental scheme, delivering 390 homes, Senator Moynihan has reiterated Labour’s call for Affordable Housing for…

Sherlock slams Tánaiste’s solo run. At end of January, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar co-signed a letter with eight other Employment affairs ministers in an attempt to undermine the German Presidency’s directive on adequate minimum wages.  Reacting to this letter, Labour employment affairs spokesperson Senator Marie Sherlock said this is a direct and blatant attempt to hobble a…

Consultation welcome but students need concrete timeline Third level institutions not referenced as part of the plan Where is the independent review of Leaving Cert 2020?   Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD has called on the Minister for Education to set a concrete timeline for a decision regarding this year’s Leaving Cert. The…

Labour transport spokesperson Duncan Smith TD has urged the Minister for Transport to urgently sign off on regional and local roads maintenance grant allocation. This money is of vital importance to ensure the continued improvement of our roads, making them safer for all users.  Deputy Smith said:  “Local authorities all over the country continue to…

Labour Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Brendan Howlin has called on the Irish Government to use our position on the UN Security Council and within the EU to address the despicable treatment of the Uighur population in China, saying we can no longer stand idly by as grotesque human rights abuses continue with impunity. Deputy Howlin…

Labour Local Government spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has said the latest power grab by the Minister for Housing through the proposed Land Development Agency Bill is unacceptable and undemocratic, and must be dropped. Senator Moynihan said: “The latest power grab by central government to strip Councillors of the power to block land transfers and disposals is…

High Court judgement on business interruption claim is watershed decision David v Goliath case shows insurance industry’s contempt for loyal customers Levy on insurance profits must be considered as part of radical shake-up of sector   Responding to today’s High Court decision that four bar owners should receive compensation from FBD for the interruption to…

Labour Seanad Group Leader and Spokesperson for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Senator Ivana Bacik will join early years professionals, childcare providers, parents and supporters in an online day of action for the Early Childhood Education and Care sector, organised by the Together for Early Years coalition.  Speaking on the day of action, Senator Bacik…

Labour TD for Cork East and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children & Youth Affairs Seán Sherlock has called on the government to provide clarity on pay and conditions for Early Years Educators and Childcare Workers following the completion of the report into the sector. Today in the Dáil, Deputy Sherlock lent the…