Type: Press

Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has called for priority treatment for HSE staff on our roads. Deputy Smith said: “As part of Operation Fanacht, we are seeing the Gardaí implement more checks on our roads and are rerouting many drivers at this time, including nurses and doctors who are en route to…

Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD, has said acquiring high quality Personal Protective Equipment for our frontline healthcare workers is the best thing the Government and HSE could do on World Health Day. Deputy Kelly said: “This World Health Day we must single out the trojan work our frontline staff in the health service are…

Labour TD Seán Sherlock has called for a support payment to be immediately made available to apprentices who have been left high and dry with no income following the Covid-19 lockdown. Deputy Sherlock said: “The Government has made available income supports to employees and businesses but some groups such as apprentices have fallen through the…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, has called on third-level institutions and the further education sector to introduce a ‘no-detriment’ style policy for the remainder of the academic year. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Students have been out of college since March 13th, nearly a month ago. Many students have still received very little clarity…

Labour Spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Ged Nash TD, has said the Government must amend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) to address the perverse situation where many lower paid workers would be financially better off having lost their jobs than being retained by their employer on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)….

Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, has said the Government must urgently produce their long-awaited childcare solution for healthcare professionals. Deputy Kelly said: “Schools and creches have been closed since March 13th and nearly a month on many healthcare workers still have no fixed solutions surrounding childcare. “Many frontline healthcare workers are relying on the…

Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has said the Labour Party completely opposes plans by the Government to relax rules for tax exiles. Deputy Smith said: “The existing rules are already very generous for these millionaires & billionaires. In this time of crisis in which we are pulling together as a society, locally,…

Labour spokesperson on Children, Seán Sherlock TD., has said the childcare problem for essential healthcare workers needs to be urgently addressed by Government. Deputy Sherlock continued: “I’m really concerned by reports today that many healthcare workers feel they’re at ‘breaking point’ when it comes to trying to arrange suitable care for their children. “Healthcare workers are on…

Following the conclusion of the Labour Party Leadership contest, Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, said: “It is an absolute honour to be elected as Leader of the Labour Party by the members and to have received so much support from different parts of the country throughout my campaign. I have been a Labour member…

“I wholeheartedly congratulate my friend and colleague Alan Kelly, who now takes on the responsibility of leading our Party. The values of economic justice, universal rights, equality, solidarity, compassion, inclusiveness and internationalism are safe in Alan’s hands. I want to especially congratulate his family who I know will rightly share in this proud day. “I know…

Labour spokesperson on Education, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, has said the voices of school teachers and principals should be heard in the issuing of any formal guidance by the Department of Education and Skills during the Covid 19 shutdown. It comes as the INTO expressed concern that it was not consulted on the ‘Guidance on…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, said mixed messages from Government are not serving exam students well. This comes as the Taoiseach said at a media briefing that the Leaving Certificate would be going ahead as planned “by hook or by crook.” Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The statement this evening by the Taoiseach…

Responding to the latest live register figures, Labour Party Employment Affairs spokesperson, Ged Nash TD,  has reiterated calls for an EU “unemployment reinsurance scheme” to support a swift and inclusive recovery Deputy Nash said: “We have seen an explosion in unemployment figures today, with nearly 300,000 people receiving the emergency Covid-19 Pandemic payment. “With nearly…

Speaking in relation to the risk of people racking up months of compound interest and surcharges on loans and credit card debt due to the coronavirus epidemic, Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the Government to freeze interest and surcharges for the duration of the crisis period. Calls for €500 Increase in Overdrafts Brendan said:…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly, has called on more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be supplied to health staff such as nursing home staff, home helps, carers and social workers. Deputy Kelly said: ‘This is an extremely difficult time for frontline workers who are looking after our most vulnerable citizens whether that be those…

Labour Justice spokesperson Seán Sherlock has welcomed Operation Faoisimh but said additional supports to tackle domestic violence will be needed as the Covid-19 lockdown continues. Minister should remind Gardaí of powers to seek emergency barring orders Deputy Sherlock said: “With people confined to home there will be an increase in domestic violence and I am…

The Labour Party disagrees with the decision of the Business Committee today that the Dáil would continue to sit on Thursday. The Labour Parliamentary Party has agreed that our TDs would not attend the sitting of the Dáil for statements on Thursday as it is non-essential business and not legislation that was being proposed. They…

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Duncan Smith, has called for the fuel allowance payment to be extended for two additional weeks to include the Easter Weekend. Deputy Smith wrote to Minister Doherty today asking for this extension, joining calls from other Labour representatives such as Cllr Dermot Lacey calling for this measure. Deputy Smith said:…

Reacting to multiple reports of banks unfairly withholding support from mortgage customers, the leader of the Labour Party said that any bank or financial company that acts against the public interest during this emergency should face stiff consequences. Brendan Howlin said: “Ireland is facing an extraordinary national emergency, with the coronavirus affecting people’s jobs and…

Labour Cllr Rebecca Moynihan has called on drivers to slow down and save lives on near empty roads. Councillor Moynihan said: “Speeding causes accidents and slowing down will save lives. With far less traffic cars and other vehicles are moving more quickly. This is putting other road users at risk. “Cyclists have been reporting that…

Speaking today on the Seanad Order of Business in advance of the debate on the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020, Senator Ivana Bacik expressed condolences to the families of all those bereaved as a result of the coronavirus, and to all those affected by it through illness or loss of income.  She…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has called for the Government to clarify if staff in private hospitals that have assumed section 38 of the Health Act, will be given the same rights as healthcare staff in public hospitals. Deputy Kelly said: “I completely welcome the fact that private hospitals have come under section…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said calls by Fianna Fáil to cancel the Junior Certificate are irresponsible. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Calls by Fianna Fáil to cancel the Junior Certificate fail to recognise the wider consequences of doing so. “While obviously ensuring that the Leaving Certificate exams go ahead is obviously the…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has welcomed the decision to pay student nurses. Deputy Kelly said: “I welcome the decision by the Government to pay student nurses as healthcare assistants during the COVID-19 crisis. “Student nurses like many healthcare professionals are putting themselves out on the frontline working to protect us from the…