Type: Press

Labour Senator Mark Wall has highlighted the need to review the short hop rail zones to make public transport more affordable and more accessible for commuting students and workers. Reiterating the need to change the culture of public transport, Senator Wall said we cannot allow our motorways to turn into carparks again. Senator Wall said:…

Following the publication of Budget 2022, Labour Party spokesperson for the environment and climate, Ivana Bacik TD has called for a more radical vision on climate, and for an ambitious carbon budgeting programme for Ireland.  Deputy Bacik said: “This Budget is deeply disappointing on climate. While aspects of it are commendable, the measures it lays…

Questioning the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Labour leader Alan Kelly said the tax cuts announced in yesterday’s budget are meaningless in a society where 172 children are waiting for scoliosis procedures. Highlighting the case of Adam Terry, a 10 year old boy who is waiting over four years for surgery, Deputy Kelly said in a…

Responding to Budget 2022, Labour employment spokesperson Marie Sherlock called out the Government for failing to even mention the enormous youth unemployment problem that exists as a result of the pandemic. With current unemployment rates for young workers at 17.4% in September 2021, youth unemployment is running at almost four times the rate of older…

Responding to Budget 2022, Labour defence spokesperson Mark Wall said our Defence Forces deserve more than three sentences in a speech. Senator Wall said: “The three lines of thanks from Minister McGrath will mean nothing to the Defence Force families who continue to seek proper pay and conditions. The indication that the Minister will address…

Cost of living crisis is right now, not next September €250 emergency grant awarded last year should be reflected in this year’s payment The proposed budget increases to the SUSI grant should be backdated to September for this college year said Labour spokesperson Annie Hoey, as the cost of living crisis is now, rather than…

Childcare package a welcome increase, but a vision for universal, public childcare lacking Additional funding to disability services welcome, but opportunity for radical change missed Following its publication, Ivana Bacik TD has said that Budget 2022 is a missed opportunity for a New Deal for Care in Ireland. Deputy Bacik said: “It was a collective…

Responding to Budget 2022 Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said people want system change, not throwaway tax cuts. Deputy Smith said the post-pandemic crisis within our health system will not be resolved by this government. Deputy Smith said: “Budget 2022 will be a disappointment for many people in Ireland, particularly those with additional care needs….

Zoned land tax reduction from 7% vacant land tax to 3% No vacant homes tax Zero for renters No changes to HAP limits Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said Budget 2022 was a missed opportunity to tackle systemic issues in the housing market and confront the rental crisis head on. Senator Moynihan said: “Government have…

As prices rise Budget 2022 will leave households worse off. For example a minimum €7.50 increase is needed to jobseeker payments to insulate against 3.7% inflation. Responding to the €5 increase to weekly payments, and other associated measures, Labour Social Protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock TD said the projected inflation rate of 3.7% means that the…

Responding to Owen Keegan’s out of touch comments about the student accommodation crisis, Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said the disrespect shown to students by the DCC head is belittling and wrong. Senator Moynihan: “The comments made by Owen Keegan today aren’t even worth repeating. It exemplifies the attitude of DCC to the planning crisis…

Labour Alternative Budget would commence a pilot basic income scheme Arts Council funding to be expanded to €150m Devote €1.3 million to extend opening hours of cultural institutions Funding to help Local Authorities buy and refurbish vacant properties for arts and culture space In advance of Budget day, Labour spokesperson on the arts Marie Sherlock said…

Labour’s alternative budget provides €85 million for CAHMS and Eating Disorder teams Education campaign needed to end the stigma In advance of World Mental Health Day this Sunday, Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has called on government to set aside targeted funding for children and young people’s mental health in Budget 2022. Deputy Smith said:…

Labour Party Social Protection Spokesperson Seán Sherlock has reiterated calls for the Minister for Social Protection to publish the Pension Commission report and commit to a Dáil debate on it as a matter of urgency. While the Government continues to kick the can on this issue, now to a sub-committee, Deputy Sherlock said people need…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Department of Education to stop issuing unworkable circulars that are tying the hands of principals rather than empowering them to find solutions locally. Following an unrealistic circular issued yesterday, Deputy Ó Ríordáin said that school communities need practical solutions from the Department, not further barriers….

Investment of €87 million needed for free public transport for students and children Expansion of City Bikes scheme badly needed Time to increase list of commuter stations and towns Labour’s transport spokesperson Duncan Smith said the failure of government to present a timeline for the reduction of transport fares is a further symptom of short-term…

Labour would build an additional 2,000 social homes in 2022 3% use it or lose it site levy Introduce a Rent to Buy scheme Launching Labour’s Alternative Budget housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said the speculative housing market has a hidden human and social cost we can no longer afford, calling on government to prioritise building…

Carbon Tax Credit of €200 to tackle soaring cost of living €7.50 inflation-busting increase to all social welfare payments Taxes on wealth and clampdown on reliefs to raise €1 billion Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash said that Labour’s alternative budget plans would deliver a real and sustained pandemic dividend that would see investment in childcare,…

Reacting to the news that 467 people are currently on hospital trolleys today, Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said that the high trolley numbers suggest the beginning of a new health crisis. Highlighting the many efforts made by frontline workers during the pandemic, Deputy Smith said many of these workers are moving from one crisis…

Labour defence spokesperson Mark Wall has welcomed the appointment by the Minister for Defence of a Confidential Contact Person (CCP) to help former and serving members of the Defence Forces who make allegations of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment or discrimination. Speaking after the PDFORRA conference today, Senator Wall reiterated his calls on the Minister to immediately…

Senator Marie Sherlock yesterday joined with childcare workers in organising a protest outside Leinster House in opposition to the exclusion of some of the most disadvantaged  children from the new National Childcare Scheme. Senator Sherlock, who is based in Dublin Central, has been working with childcare providers who first flagged problems with the National Childcare…

Labour transport spokesperson Duncan Smith said the downgrading of Metrolink in the National Development Plan published today shines a light on the total lack of political will to deliver Metrolink. Deputy Smith said: “It is truly disappointing that to see there is no commitment from government in the NDP to a completion date for Metrolink….

Plan has all the hallmarks of a political ready-up Little credibility in a wish-list with no detailed costings and timelines for delivery Climate assessments must not be sacrificed for political expediency The revised National Development Plan is a work of fiction and has all the hallmarks of an old-style political ready-up, according to Labour’s Finance…

Slaintecare advisory group envisioned to oversee all policy – not just regionalisation Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said the setting up of a separate group to advise on the regionalisation aspect of Slaintecare is not in the spirit of achieving the aims of the full system reform proposed by Slaintecare. Reiterating his calls to Minister…