Type: Press

In the Dáil today during statements on Defence, Labour TD for Cork East Seán Sherlock raised with the Minister the need to ensure that Irish troops who had been on leave from Lebanon at the time travel restrictions were brought in should not lose out financially because they were unable to redeploy. Deputy Sherlock said:…

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith has called on the Government to extend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme for the aviation sector. Deputy Smith said: “I am calling on the Government to extend the temporary wage subsidy scheme for the aviation industry including vital support industries in order to stave off mass job losses…

Labour TD Ged Nash has called on the Minister for Finance to take urgent action to stop banks – particularly those in which the State holds a majority share – withdrawing mortgage approval from workers availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. Deputy Nash said: “I have recently been contacted by several constituents on the…

Labour Party member of the Covid-19 Response Committee, Duncan Smith TD, has said that any further negotiations with private hospitals should include considerations to nationalise one or two private hospitals. Deputy Smith said: “Following my questioning at the Covid-19 Response Committee today, the Department of Health and HSE confirmed to me that buying one or…

Labour Senator Annie Hoey has written to the Minister for Justice asking him to intervene and address the concerns of the community and asylum seekers staying in accommodation at the Central Hostel in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare. Senator Hoey said: “I am deeply concerned at what has been revealed to be going on at the…

Labour Party Senator Ivana Bacik has expressed her concern that current political developments could restrict abortion access for women in Northern Ireland. Senator Bacik has said: “I echo concerns voiced today by pro-choice campaigners in Northern Ireland about any step backwards in the fight for reproductive justice and gender equality on the island of Ireland….

Commenting on racial tensions continuing to unfold across the United States, Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, said the voices of black people in Ireland need to be listened to. Deputy Kelly said: “The scenes that have been unfolding in the United States over the weekend, particularly overnight are sobering and a reminder of the…

Launching the Labour Party’s ‘Richard O’Carroll Empowerment Bursary’, Labour’s Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has invited students to apply for the bursary for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. The bursary, worth €2,000, is named after the leader of the Labour Group on Dublin Corporation who was killed during the Easter 1916 Rising, Cllr Richard O’Carroll….

– Still too many questions before parents, workers and providers have confidence to reopen on the 29th June. Labour Deputy Seán Sherlock has called on the government to clarify whether the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme will cease on the 29th June. “The announcement by the Minister that the Early Years Sector is to open for all workers on…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called for the Government to commit to financing the resources needed to enable schools to return safely. This comes as the Minister for Education said that no additional financial resources have been yet allocated to schools to aid them in reopening. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Why is…

– Certainty needed on teacher numbers – Delayed reopening will have huge impact on disadvantaged students The ongoing uncertainty and speculation from Government about school reopenings is unacceptable, said Aodhán Ó Ríordain, and the government needs to get its act together, and give parents, and wider society some certainty on the path forward. Deputy Ó…

Labour Party Senator, Rebecca Moynihan, has said that the Minister for Education must guarantee that schools will reopen in September. Senator Moynihan said: “The Minister for Education confirmed this morning that it would be difficult to allow all students back to our schools in September if the two metre rule is still in place. “Having…

Speaking as the Dail passed an increased budget for the Department of Social Protection Ged Nash TD said the crisis must be used to deliver a new deal for the generation affected by the economic impact of Covid-19, with investment in training and upskilling – including a reformed short-term working scheme – and that the…

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith has called on the Government to urgently bring forward a plan to rebuild the Irish aviation sector. Deputy Smith said: “We all know that there is a significant amount of pressure on the aviation sector and that the sector faces and will continue to face many challenges unless…

Labour Party Senator, Marie Sherlock, has said there is no excuse for Government inaction on addressing issues around the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme for women returning from maternity leave. This comes as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has expressed their view to Government that the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme contravenes the State’s obligations under EU Law on two…

Speaking in the Dáil on local government funding, Labour TD for Wexford Brendan Howlin raised his concerns with the Minister on the impact Covid-19 is having on local councils across the country, estimating they are down €100m a month in funding, and called on the Government to make up any revenue shortfall for vital services….

Dept of Business figures that say 38% earned less than €300 and so get more on €350 PUP are based on 2018 data Certainty needed now on future of €350 payment after 9th June. Following an analysis of the revised estimate for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Labour spokesperson Ged Nash has…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has called on parties currently engaged in government formation talks to ensure that the passage of the Occupied Territories Bill (2018) is included in any programme for government negotiated.  Senator Bacik said: “The Labour Party has been clear in its continued support for the Occupied Territories Bill throughout its passage through the Oireachtas so far. I welcome indications from The Green Party and Fianna Fáil representatives that they hope to include the enactment of…

The revised estimate for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection was published today, and Labour’s Ged Nash said the budget figures raise questions over whether the pension age increase to 67 will still be stopped this year and called on the three parties negotiating for government to clarify their position. Deputy Nash, Labour’s…

Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has this morning endorsed the radical report ‘No Going Back’ from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, describing it as ‘the recovery plan Ireland needs to support workers and families by renewing the social contract with a commitment to well funded universal public services’. The Labour Leader specifically pointed to…

Following the elections to the Seanad, there were four vacant Labour Councillor seats. Nominations were opened recently to fill these positions, and where a contest was required due to more than one name going forward, selection conventions by remote vote where held today. The four new Labour Party Councillors are as follows: After the election…

Labour Party member of the Covid-19 Response Committee, Duncan Smith TD, has said the fact that HIQA have not yet visited any nursing homes affected by Covid-19 outbreaks is concerning. Deputy Smith said: “It is clear from the engagements the Covid-19 Response Committee today, that there is a clear lack of clinical oversight of nursing…

With more people slowly returning to work, Labour’s Seán Sherlock said that a cast iron guarantee was needed that childcare for essential workers would return on 29th June as the Government has promised, as concerns in the sector grow. It comes as Deputy Sherlock raised it directly with the Minister in the Dáil last week,…

The drop of over 35,000 in claimants for the €350 Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment shows people are going back to work, said Labour’s Ged Nash, and reiterated that plans by FG and FF to cut it for the lowest paid workers are wrong. Deputy Nash, Labour’s Employment Affairs and Social Protection spokesperson said: “With over…