Type: Press

Plan B needed but predicative grading not the way forward Responding to the knee jerk responses from some politicians calling for the Leaving Cert to be cancelled, Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said anyone doing so should be proposing a credible alternative. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “It is hugely disappointing that the roadmap out…

Labour Party Leader and Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has said following the publication of the roadmap out of pandemic restrictions, that it is now time the Government gave us clear guidance on what rules on masks will be required for the general public when they go back to work and use public transport, and…

Conditions on decent work must be attached to State cash injections Labour Deputy Ged Nash, responding to the government’s announcement of new supports for the SME sector said: “The new liquidity support measures for the SME sector announced today sees a reheating and repackaging of some existing schemes and the introduction of some positive changes…

Temple Bar councillor says pro-worker conditions must be placed on financial supports for the restaurant industry Responding to the nine point plan proposed this week to support restaurants by the RAI, Labour Party Councillor Kevin Donoghue, who represents Dublin’s South-East Inner-City ward said any financial support provided by the State to the industry must be…

Reacting the the latest announcement by an Taoiseach on Covid-19 restrictions, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD said: “I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has made the announcement this evening that our people will be allowed to exercise now within 5km of their homes. This is a small change but a welcome one. “I…

Labour Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin T.D, has called on the Government to provide clarity regarding the status of practicals and project work in this year’s Leaving Cert. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “A lot of schools and students were expecting clarity on the status of the Leaving Cert practicals and project work following today’s stakeholder meeting,…

To mark May Day, Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has called for greater recognition of the rights of vulnerable freelance workers. Senator Bacik said: “Today marks the international day for the recognition of workers’ rights. Yet around the world as we face the challenges presented by COVID-19, the rights of all workers are under threat as…

Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has called on airline companies such as Aer Lingus to do everything they can to retain jobs and urgent Government intervention. Deputy Smith said: “The news today that Aer Lingus are in talks with unions to cut over 900 jobs at the company is extremely concerning. This…

Speaking in the Dáil today Labour TD for Wexford, Brendan Howlin raised a number of issues with the Minister for Business including: That business supports must be linked to engagement with the industrial relations machinery of the State The very high interest rate being charged by banks on loans and overdrafts The need for insurance…

Responding to the revised arrangements for this year’s Junior Cert exam announced by the Minister for Education today, Labour Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin T.D, said: “I welcome the clarity that today’s announcement finally gives to Junior Cert students regarding this year’s exam. “It is important that the hard work of students over the past…

With alarming reports this week about increased levels of violence against women and children in the home, Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has called on the Government to do more to protect victims of domestic abuse during the COVID-19 emergency. Senator Bacik said: “Although spending weeks staying at home is not easy for any of us,…

Key questions for Debenham’s owners, leaseholders and liquidators to answer  Loss of any of 955 jobs will be devastating for the Debenhams workers Tomorrow Thursday April 30th, the liquidators of Debenhams Retail Ireland Limited are due to go to the High Court to apply for the full appointment of liquidators to the company.  Speaking in advance…

Labour Party Leader and Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has called on the Government to provide the winter flu vaccine for free to all citizens this year. Deputy Kelly said: “The IMO are rightly calling on the Government to start planning for the winter flu now. “We cannot have a repeat of what has happened…

Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has called on the Government and NPHET to outline their position on the public wearing of face-masks. Deputy Smith said: “Over the last few weeks, as other countries seek to ease their Covid-19 restriction measures, we have seen the mandatory wearing of face-masks in public be introduced…

Labour Party Senator, Rebecca Moynihan, has called on the Minister for Education to give clarity on the status of the Back to Education Allowance for the next academic year. Senator Moynihan said: “This week the Minister for Higher Education highlighted a suite of measures aimed at groups at risk of educational disadvantage without giving much…

Labour writes to Minister Harris to have public health regulations applied to all visitors to the State Louth Labour TD Ged Nash has written to the Health Minister Simon Harris urging him to introduce a regulation under the exceptional powers provided to him by the Oireachtas under the amended 1947 Health Act to ensure that…

• Minister for Finance should veto the appointment of Non-Executive Directors of bank, who appear to have never questioned the handling of the tracker mortgage scandal • Government must use its influence as major shareholder to pass on lower ECB interest rates to both personal and business customers Ahead of the AIB AGM on April 29th, Labour…

Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, has reiterated his call for healthcare workers to receive priority treatment on our roads. Deputy Smith said: “When the Gardaí initially launched Operation Fanacht, I called on the Government to provide special permits for healthcare workers so they wouldn’t get caught up in the traffic associated with Garda check…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called on the Government to give clarity on Junior Certificate exams. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “According to media reports today, the Department of Education is set to announce next week that the proposed delay of the Junior Certificate to September should now be swapped for in-school assessments…

administrative changes to wage subsidy scheme will come as a relief to hundreds of companies  Deputy Ged Nash said: “Since the 3rd April, I have been lobbying the Minister for Finance to make a minor administrative change to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to allow companies who, for a variety of reasons uploaded payroll details…

Labour spokesperson on Education, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin T.D, has said that extending the deadline for payment of the Leaving Cert exam fee this year doesn’t go far enough, and should be waived in light of the Covid 19 crisis. Deputy Ó Ríordáin raised the issue with the Minister for Education during statements and questions in…

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith TD, has echoed the calls of ICTU, NWCI and SIPTU, asking the Minister for Finance to address anomalies that exist in the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme that impact on women returning from maternity leave. Deputy Smith said: “As highlighted today by ICTU, NWCI and SIPTU, women who are…

Nash reiterates calls for urgent establishment of body to regulate and enforce social distancing in the workplace in response to survey of retail workers Labour TD Ged Nash has said the results of a Mandate Trade Union survey of frontline retail workers should reinforce the need for real government action to regulate and enforce the…

Responding to news that the Government is to allocate funds to address the digital divide among students during the Covid crisis, Labour spokesperson on Education, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin T.D, said: “It is welcome that the Government finally appears to be recognising that there is a digital divide among students, which is something I’ve been highlighting…