Type: Press
Bank Payment Breaks Must Continue for Workers in Worst Affected Sectors
Payment breaks must continue where needed for workers and companies. Banks must drop the “COVID-19 penalty” applied to payment breaks, in line with European Banking Authority (EBA) guidelines. Responding to today’s Central Bank report on COVID-19 payment breaks, Labour Finance Spokesperson Ged Nash TD called for banks to continue payment breaks for workers and to…
Read more »Internal Market Bill is a full-throated assault on the withdrawal agreement – Govt must now prepare for the likelihood of a no deal Brexit
“The Internal Market Bill which passed 1st stage in the House of Commons is a full-throated assault on the withdrawal agreement that was signed off by Boris Johnson and his Government and the UK Parliament last year according to Labour Brexit Spokesperson Brendan Howlin T.D. Deputy Howlin said: “The current line from the Prime Minister…
Read more »Teachers role in Leaving Cert and school reopening needs to be acknowledged and two-tier pay ended
Pay inequality needs to be addressed in Budget 2021 The role played by teachers in reopening schools and as part of the Leaving Cert calculated grades process needs to be acknowledged and the two-tier pay system ended according to Labour Education Spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin T.D. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “This year has been an…
Read more »Urgent rescue package needed for taxi industry
Labour Party Spokesperson on Transport, Duncan Smith TD has called on the Minister for Transport to deliver an urgent package of measures to rescue the taxi industry and ensure taxi drivers are able to continue to earn a viable living in a safe manner. Deputy Smith said: “The taxi industry is one of the forgotten…
Read more »Government face a choice as to whether they want to act – warm words will not deliver for the Debenhams workers
The Government now face a choice as to whether they want to act on detailed proposals submitted by ICTU in order to resolve the Debenhams dispute according to Labour Spokesperson on Employment, Senator Marie Sherlock. “Over the past fortnight ICTU put a clear proposal to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Damien English that could satisfactorily resolve…
Read more »Will spectators be allowed at matches as part of Government plan for living with Covid
Clarity is needed on whether a limited number of spectators will be allowed attend matches again as part of the Government’s medium-term plan for living with Covid-19 according to Labour Spokesperson on Sport, Senator Mark Wall. Senator Wall said: “Much of the conversation around the reopening plan has focused on Dublin and whether wet pubs…
Read more »Bill to tackle Online Harassment must become law
Petition to be handed into Dáil next week, Wednesday 16th at 11am. Labour to restore Harassment Bill to the Dáil order paper next week. Government must move quickly to bring forward amendments and make it law. There is a pressing need to tackle online harassment said Labour Justice spokesperson Brendan Howlin, commending Jackie Fox for…
Read more »Nash Slams Rising Interest Rates for Mortgages and Business
Responding to the release of retail interest rates for July by the Central Bank, the Labour Spokesperson for Finance Ged Nash has slammed the continuing rise in interest rates on loans for new homeowners and businesses at a time when banks can borrow at near 0% or below The Labour Louth & East Meath TD has called on the Minister for Finance to ensure…
Read more »Citizens’ Assembly on drugs must be a priority for the new Government
Taoiseach needs to prioritise this Mulvey Commission needed for Northside and Drogheda A Citizens’ Assembly on drugs must be a priority according to Labour T.D Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Deputy Ó Ríordáin was speaking after addressing Minister of State, Frank Feighan in the Dáil. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “There was a lot of debate this evening…
Read more »Roadmap for living with Covid needs to be elderly proofed
The roadmap for living with Covid due to be published on Tuesday needs to be elderly proofed according to Labour Leader Alan Kelly. Deputy Kelly said: “We need to look after our elderly as we head into six months of winter, a very difficult time and we need to ensure that they can live their…
Read more »Duplicity of Boris Johnson exposed by UK decision to introduce legislation overriding part of the Withdrawal Agreement
The UK Government’s decision to introduce legislation overriding parts of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement has exposed the duplicity of Boris Johnson according to Labour Brexit Spokesperson Brendan Howlin. Deputy Howlin was speaking after it was announced in the House of Commons that the UK Government is to fast track the introduction of its new post-Brexit…
Read more »Decision to stop meat factory testing beggars belief
Urgent explanation needed from government Extra capacity needed to be put in place ASAP Neither Minister for Agriculture or Health flagged this today Labour Agriculture spokesperson Seán Sherlock has said the government need to give an urgent explanation on why testing at meat factories has been stopped, and that extra capacity should be put in…
Read more »Student nurses at breaking point – they need to be paid for placement
Labour Spokesperson on Further & Higher Education, Senator Annie Hoey, has written to Minister Harris and Minister Donnelly to request that student nurses are paid for their supernumerary placements. Senator Hoey said: “I have been contacted by student nurses who have expressed dismay that they have been instructed that they cannot take on part time…
Read more »Central Bank probe into Insurance Industry must be speeded up
Initial findings of Central Bank investigation into insurance industry deeply troubling. Central Bank must clarify if all insurance firms are fully cooperating with their investigation. Central Bank finding that insurance companies are not putting their customers first points to deep cultural problems in the industry. Labour Party spokesperson on Finance Ged Nash TD has said…
Read more »New approach needed for air travel – current system unsustainable
▪️Need to balance public health advice with NPHET’s assertion that we will have to live with the virus ▪️Will lead to thousands of job losses Speaking after the news that Ryanair are considering closing their bases in Cork and Shannon for the Winter, Labour Spokesperson on Transport, Duncan Smith T.D has requested NPHET examine new…
Read more »Plan needed to tackle class sizes in primary schools
With the OECD ‘Education at a glance’ report highlighting the importance of smaller class sizes for social distancing, Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the government must deliver a plan to reduce the number of pupils in primary school classrooms and increase the overall level of investment in our education system. Deputy Ó Ríordáin…
Read more »Residents and staff at Sisters of Charity Facilities deserve fair treatment
Speaking today in response to the news that frontline healthcare workers are being denied fair redundancies at three care facilities run by the Sisters of Charity in Dublin, Senator Ivana Bacik called on the HSE and Sisters of Charity to ensure an equitable resolution for the staff employed at the facilities. Senator Bacik said: …
Read more »Students left high and dry with no timetables and no clue whether they’ll be on campus or not
· Minister needs to clarify how many extra spaces will be allocated for deferred students Students have been left high and dry by Higher Education Institutes with no timetable and no clue whether they’ll be on campus or not according to Labour Higher Education Spokesperson, Senator Annie Hoey. Senator Hoey said: “There are a number…
Read more »Poor form by Debenhams Liquidators – a deal can be found
Sherlock condemns heavy handed treatment of workers Reacting to the news that the Debenhams’s liquidators have now withdrawn their deal with Mandate, Labour Spokesperson on Employment Affairs, Senator Marie Sherlock has urged the liquidators to go back to the table to find an improved deal with the workers’ representatives. Senator Sherlock said: “This sudden withdrawal of the…
Read more »Financial Services Commission brief comes with key challenges
European Deposit Insurance Scheme must be delivered to complete banking union Congratulating Mairead McGuinness on her designation as EU Commissioner, Labour Finance spokesperson Ged Nash said the role comes with key challenges that may put her in conflict with Ireland. He explained a key risk will be how the UK will interact with the EU…
Read more »Sick pay needed for childcare workers
Labour Spokesperson on Disability, Children and Equality, Senator Ivana Bacik, has called on the Government to introduce sick pay for childcare workers. Senator Bacik was speaking in support of the SIPTU pre-budget submission for the childcare sector which called for the introduction of a living wage guarantee to help retain educators in the sector; and the…
Read more »Legislation needed to prevent developers converting student accommodation into tourist accommodation
Labour Housing Spokesperson, Senator Rebecca Moynihan is calling on the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government to introduce legislation to prevent developers converting student accommodation into tourist accommodation. Senator Moynihan was speaking after an application was made to Dublin City Council for a change of use of a luxury student accommodation development, the Tannery…
Read more »Latest approach of British Government is astonishing
Bizarre negotiation tactic introduced as time runs out to agree free trade deal. Responding to the potential repudiation by the British government of parts of the withdrawal agreement, Labour Brexit spokesperson Brendan Howlin said it was an astonishing approach and would make agreeing a trade agreement more difficult in the short time remaining. Deputy Howlin…
Read more »More college places may be needed with higher grades in Leaving Cert
Congratulated students and educators on awarding of calculated Leaving Cert. 1,250 extra places may not be enough, and impact on deferred students must be addressed. Congratulating students on their Leaving Cert results, Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin paid tribute to all those who have experienced a very difficult year, reminded students and parents of…
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