Type: Press

Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has welcomed the decision by Government to extend school meals for July and August. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “I wholeheartedly welcome the news that Cabinet is due to sign off on extending school meals for the rest of the summer. “I have been calling for the Government to make…

A decision on whether to extend the provision of free school meals over the summer period must be made this week according to Labour Education Spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “This week is the final week of term, next week is the beginning of July and if the decision is to be…

In the wake of the High Court ruling which struck down the Sectoral Employment Order bargaining system, Labour TD Ged Nash today (Thursday, 25th June)  published a Bill that, if passed by the Oireachtas, would see the terms of the three existing (purported) Orders – electrical, construction and mechanical engineering – given the full force of…

Labour Party member of the Covid-19 Response Committee, Duncan Smith TD, has welcomed moves to make the wearing of face masks compulsory on public transport. Deputy Smith: “I welcome the news that the Government are finally making the wearing of face masks compulsory on public transport. Face masks are an essential weapon in this battle…

Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD has welcomed the announcement that CervicalCheck screening will resume in July but has said we need to see dates for other screening programmes to be resumed. Deputy Kelly said: “I welcome the announcement that CervicalCheck screening will resume for priority cases on the 6th of July. “The announcement today…

Michael Murphy, Bonmahohn has been selected as the Local Area Representative for the Kilmacthomas- Portlaw (Comeragh) Local Electoral Area. Michael is 24 years old, a graduate from WIT in Social Science, Former Welfare Officer and President of WIT Students’ Union and is currently working in Waterford as a Housing Support Worker for Focus Ireland. Michael…

Temporary Wage Scheme must be expanded to fund wages Labour Party Spokesperson on Children, Seán Sherlock TD has called for the creation of a Citizen’s Assembly on Childcare and for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to be expanded to fund the sector fully ahead of the September reopening of Childcare. Said Deputy Sherlock: “If it…

Labour Party Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Seán Sherlock has said the Government engaged in a charade with no concerted effort to restore childcare, as officials from the INMO confirmed correspondence showed that the HSE and the Departments failed to act to provide childcare for frontline workers. Deputy Sherlock said: “The 18 May deadline,…

Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, has called on the HSE and Government to publish the roadmap to reopening our healthcare services this week Deputy Kelly said: “Since April I have been calling on the Government to publish a roadmap on the safe reopening of our health services. Week after week, I have been told…

-Absence of official Covid-19 safety guidance means SNA’s won’t take part in Summer Programme. The Government announced July Provision more than 10 days ago and still haven’t put in place basic procedures to allow it to proceed, said Labour Education Spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin after Fórsa the Union representing Special Needs Assistants have advised their…

The decision by Dublin City Council not to proceed with the purchase of 422 North Circular Road is most disappointing.  It is a semi-derelict house and has been in a poor state of repair for a considerable time. It was there that Sean O’Casey wrote his famous trilogy – The Shadow of a  Gunman, Juno…

Labour Cork East TD Seán Sherlock has called for driving tests to be restarted on June 29th as part of the acceleration measures announced today. Approximately 30,000 learner drivers remain in limbo. “Driving lessons and tests could arguably be put into the same category as hairdressing and barber shops,” said Deputy Sherlock.  “Over 27,000 learner…

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has called the cutting of 500 jobs by Aer Lingus a hammer blow for workers and their families and has called the conduct of Aer Lingus as absolutely disgraceful as it uses the Covid-19 pandemic to pursue their long-term cost cutting agenda to reduce staffing and worsen terms…

Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, has said the decision to have 20 ministers of State should be revisited in this economic climate. Deputy Kelly said: “As we face into more uncertain times post-Covid, I would question the need to have twenty junior ministers. “There are huge costs associated with junior ministries and we have…

Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock has called on Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party to clarify whether the M20 will proceed over the lifetime of the next Government. Deputy Sherlock was speaking after comments from Green Party TD Ossian Smith at the Green Party convention and Minister for Finance Pascal Donohue…

Responding to the OECD’s Economic Outlook report which shows that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment should not be cut, Labour TD Ged Nash has called on the Government to stop its plans to slash the payment at the end of June. Deputy Nash said: “Recent international evidence from the OECD has now confirmed that pandemic unemployment…

Commenting on the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, said: “Firstly my thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Colm Horkan. “The news coming from Castlerea this morning is absolutely awful. “What happened to Detective Horkan is a stark reminder of the fact that members of…

Extending his sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of the Garda Detective shot in Roscommon last night, Labour Justice spokesperson Seán Sherlock said: “I am shocked, and deeply saddened to hear this morning of the fatal shooting of a Detective in An Garda Síochána in the Castlrea area of Co. Roscommon last night. I…

Congratulating the Irish Government and all those who contributed to the effort on their successful campaign to win a Security Council seat, Labour spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Brendan Howlin said: “I want to pay particular tribute to our diplomats and civil servants in both the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and across the public…

Responding to the publication of the new national mental health policy, Labour Senator Annie Hoey has said that the proposals must be fully resourced to ensure the implementation roadmap is delivered on, as no costings or future budget requirements have been provided today. Senator Hoey said: “Today’s document ‘Sharing the Vision – a Mental Health…

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has called on Aer Lingus to reverse the decision to unilaterally withdraw proposals which were aimed at stopping pay reductions and job losses describing the company action as unacceptable. Deputy Smith said: “It is a disgrace the way Aer Lingus has conducted itself in how they have engaged…

Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has repeated his call for the Government to fund the provision of school meals throughout the summer until schools return in the autumn. It follows the successful campaign in the UK that was championed by footballer Marcus Rashford. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Last week I issued a call for…

With ongoing reports that the next Government will combine the Department of Children Youth Affairs with the Department of Education under the control of one Minister, Labour spokesperson Seán Sherlock has called for the retention of a dedicated Department for Children with a standalone Cabinet Minister with political clout necessary to provide a voice for…

Responding to the publication of a draft Programme for Government called a Shared Future, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD welcomed the significant movement by the two main parties on environmental issues, but expressed disappointment at the lack of costings, the high level of rebranded and rehashed policies across a range of sectors, and the…