Type: Press
67 active HSA inspectors not enough – ‘Cop On’ is not a policy
Proactive inspection regime with more staffing needed Responding to the revelation on Today with Sarah McInerney this morning that there were only 67 active HSA inspectors in the country, and the call from the Minister for Health for collective ‘cop on’, Labour Employment Affairs spokesperson Ged Nash said: “With construction sites reopened and over 150,000…
Read more »Decision not to extend free flu jab to all citizens disappointing
Labour Party Leader and Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said the decision by the Government to not to extend the flu vaccine to all citizens for free is disappointing. This comes as the Minister for Health has announced that children up to the age of 12 will now join those who are in at-risk…
Read more »Clear plan needed on reopening of childcare sector
Labour Party spokesperson on Children, Seán Sherlock TD, has called for a clear and coherent plan for the reopening of the childcare sector. It comes as the first phase of the easing of restrictions begins tomorrow. Deputy Sherlock said: “With some businesses set to begin reopening from tomorrow, many working parents will be looking ahead…
Read more »Re-think needed on the return of cars to Phoenix Park
With the partial re-opening of the Phoenix Park to cars on Monday 18th, Labour Senator Marie Sherlock has said now is the time to re-think the planned full re-opening of the Park to vehicular access on June 8th. Senator Sherlock has written to Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran who has responsibility for the OPW to express…
Read more »Labour response to Fianna Fáil – Fine Gael letter
Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly wrote to the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael today saying that at this time the Labour Party would not take part in formal discussions on a Programme for Government. His letter, available at the link below, outlines the reasons for this: https://www.labour.ie/download/pdf/labour_response_to_ff_fg_15052020.pdf
Read more »Failure to meet Rebuilding Ireland targets mean further delays to public housing & cost rental
Labour Party Senator, Rebecca Moynihan, has called for progress to be made on the delivery of public homes and cost-rental accommodation. Senator Moynihan said: “The targets set out by Rebuilding Ireland have been missed yet again. “There needs to be more intervention in terms of direct build that contributes to long-term social housing. “There are…
Read more »Audit needed into Covid-19 data reporting
Labour Party Leader and Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has called for an audit how Covid-19 cases are reported and collated. Deputy Kelly said: “There has been much confusion today over the late reporting of Covid-19 figures. “It seems the delayed reporting of 244 legacy cases dating as far back as March has been attributed…
Read more »Senator Bacik underlines Labour commitment to the Palestinian cause
Senator Ivana Bacik has marked 15th May (Nakba Day) 2020 by underlining the Labour Party’s ongoing commitment to supporting the cause of the Palestinian people, saying: Senator Bacik said: “The Labour Party has a proud record of defending the human rights of Palestinian people. In the last Seanad, we Labour Senators strongly supported the recognition of…
Read more »Ó Ríordáin condemns Darndale shooting
Reacting to news of last night’s shooting in Darndale, Labour TD for Dublin Bay North, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said: “I strongly condemn last night’s shooting in Darndale. “While thankfully there has been no loss of life in this instance, it is a stark reminder that violent crime hasn’t gone away during the public health emergency….
Read more »Urgent action needed at UHL
Limerick Labour Councillor Conor Sheehan has called on the Government to provide funding to address the funding shortfall at University Hospital Limerick. Cllr Sheehan said: “There were 42 patients on trolleys at UHL today out of a total of 74 nationally. That is more than 57% of all patients on trolleys. “We know that UHL…
Read more »Robust inspection regime of workplaces needed
Speaking in the Dáil on Business statements, and the roadmap to reopen the economy, Labour employment spokesperson Ged Nash TD called for more Health and Safety Agency inspectors. Deputy Nash said: “We will need a very robust inspection regime from the Health and Safety Agency as more workplaces reopen, and those found breaking the rules…
Read more »Bacik calls for release of women’s rights activists detained for opposition to Saudi male guardianship system
Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has joined others in restating her concern for women’s rights campaigners in Saudi Arabia who have been targeted and imprisoned for their activism. Senator Bacik said: “Saudi Arabia’s so-called male guardianship system, which requires Saudi women to obtain permission from a man to travel abroad, to marry and to make a…
Read more »Publication of HSE letters on testing target show serious failings – Kelly
Following the publication of a series of letters between senior officials in the Department of Health and the HSE regarding governance issues, Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, said the contents show serious failings of governance and accountability, and raises questions about how the Covid-19 testing targets were arrived at. Deputy Kelly said: “Having sought…
Read more »Govt needs to show urgency on childcare issues
Labour spokesperson on Children, Seán Sherlock TD, has said a plan for the safe reopening of the childcare sector needs to be prioritised following the collapse of the scheme for healthcare workers. For over a week the Labour Party has been calling for an insurance indemnity on Covid-19 to ensure this is not an obstacle to…
Read more »Solutions on childcare needed now following scheme collapse
Responding to the collapse of the childcare scheme for frontline healthcare workers, Labours Seán Sherlock said: “The collapse of the childcare scheme for healthcare workers shows the shambolic approach of the government and contrasts sharply with the premature comments today from Taoiseach about reopening schools and crèches which have been dismissed by the Chief Medical…
Read more »Govt should regularise legal status of undocumented frontline care workers
Labour spokesperson on Justice, Seán Sherlock TD, has called on the Government to commit to regularising the legal status of undocumented migrant workers who are carrying out essential frontline care services during the Covid crisis. Deputy Sherlock raised the issue with Minister Flanagan in the Dáil this evening. Deputy Sherlock said: “Many undocumented workers have stepped up and…
Read more »Guarantee needed on school profiling
Labour spokesperson on Education, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, has again called on the Government to take steps to guarantee there will be no school profiling when it comes to grading this year’s revised Leaving Cert. Deputy Ó Ríordáin raised the issue with the Minister for Education in the Dáil today. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The…
Read more »Metrolink project should not be scrapped
Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has said long-term transport projects such as MetroLink should not be taken off the table. Deputy Smith said: “It’s important at this time to ensure long-term investment in environmentally sound transport projects such as MetroLink remain on the table. “This is vital for not only the transport…
Read more »Government inaction is shameful and discriminatory for mothers returning to work
Mothers returning to their employment are being failed by a loophole in the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) said Labour Senator Marie Sherlock. Senator Sherlock said: “It beggars belief that the Government continues to discriminate against women returning to work after their maternity leave in the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. It is nearly three weeks…
Read more »Decision to cut cycle to work scheme for education staff regressive
Labour Party Senator, Rebecca Moynihan, has said the decision by the Department of Education and Skills to close applications for the Cycle to Work scheme for teachers, SNAs, clerical staff and other staff on the Department’s payroll is shortsighted. Senator Moynihan said: “The decision by the Department of Education and Skills to close off applications…
Read more »Construction sector must get return to work protocols absolutely right
Speaking ahead of the reopening of construction sites, Labour Councillor Alison Gilliland and chair of the Dublin City Council Strategic Policy Committee on Housing, said: “As building sites prepare to open this day week, the construction sector must get its return to work protocols absolutely right otherwise we risk a spike in Covid19 cases across our communities….
Read more »IDA must intervene on National Pen jobs
SIPTU must be enabled to represent workers at Dundalk plant Labour TD for Louth, Ged Nash has called on the IDA and the Minister for Business to intervene to rescue the 176 jobs at risk in National Pen in Dundalk. Deputy Nash said: “The company callously emailed staff late Friday afternoon announcing that they plan…
Read more »Statement from the Labour Party
The Labour Party received a letter from the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael regarding our response to the Framework Document. Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly said: “I have received a response from the Leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I will discuss it with my colleagues in the Parliamentary Party over the…
Read more »Insurance certainty needed for childcare providers
With the childcare sector scheduled to gradually begin reopening on a phased basis later this summer under Government plans, Labour spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Seán Sherlock TD, has called for clarity regarding Covid-19 insurance arrangements for the sector. Deputy Sherlock said: “We saw the long-awaited childcare scheme for healthcare workers run into serious…
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