Type: Press
Housing and Homelessness crisis a shocking indictment of Government’s record- O’Sullivan
The most glaring example of inequality in Ireland today is that of the housing and homelessness crisis, with the Government still failing to deliver adequate affordable and social housing. That’s according to Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan, who says a new approach to the problem is needed. Speaking at the Labour Party’s national Think-in Cork…
Read more »Full estimates of Brexit job losses must be published
Responding to the estimate that 10,000 jobs could be lost in the tourism and hospitality industries, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, called on the government to publish their full estimates of all potential job losses across the economy, and to outline their plan to preserve jobs in the event of a…
Read more »Burton backs Lagarde call for more EU economic stimulus
Labour Finance spokesperson Joan Burton TD, has welcomed calls for EU governments to engage in more economic stimulus. The comments were made by Christine Lagarde at the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Deputy Burton said: “I welcome Christine Lagarde’s argument for the European Central Bank to be agile and to react to…
Read more »DCC should not foot bill for neglect of Iveagh Markets
Labour Party representative for Dublin South Central, Cllr Rebecca Moynihan, has said that Dublin City Council should not have to foot the €13 million bill for essential structural repairs to the historic Iveagh Markets. Councillor Moynihan said: “Following a much-needed conservation report commissioned by Dublin City Council, we now know that there is at least…
Read more »Gov must publish report on Public Services Card
Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to publish the report from the Data Protection Commissioner on the public services card, as legislators need to know the grounds for the appeal and the reasoning behind the DPC decision. Sen. Humphreys, a former Minister of State in the…
Read more »Radical steps required to protect Northern Ireland’s interests
Responding to the likelihood of a UK general election, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, called on parties in Northern Ireland to consider running joint Remain candidates who will commit to taking up their seats in Westminster. Deputy Howlin said: “It is unacceptable that so much Brexit decision making has happened in…
Read more »Child homelessness figure highlights failure of Government policy
Commenting on the latest homelessness figures, Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan TD, said: “These latest figures make for grim reading and show that not only has the homelessness crisis not gone away, it is getting worse, and Government policy is failing to resolve it. “Since June, there are 103 more children in emergency accommodation, with…
Read more »Independent Price Regulator needed for Beef Sector
Responding to the crisis in the beef industry and continued nationwide protests, Labour spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Willie Penrose TD called on Minister Creed to immediately convene crisis talks to resolve the issue, with a focus on establishing an independent price regulator. Deputy Penrose said: “Smaller farmers are rightly concerned about the…
Read more »HSE Capital Plan lacks credibility
Labour Party Health spokesperon, Alan Kelly TD, has said the HSE Capital Plan lacks credibility. Deputy Kelly said: “The HSE Capital Plan for 2019 published today, nine months into the year, is a complete window dressing exercise. “Many of the projects listed in this plan we already know about or are underway. “The delay in…
Read more »Govt must take calls to tackle back to school costs seriously
Labour Party Education spokesperson, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has reiterated Labour’s demand for a free books scheme as part of an overall package to relieve back to school costs on families. This comes as figures from the Saint Vincent de Paul show that they had a a 4% increase in requests for help from families…
Read more »Price stability means nothing to people with disabilities without waiver
Labour TD Seán Sherlock has dismissed the latest price monitoring group report as worthless as long as the Government continues to blame GDPR rather than support people with disabilities and incontinence issues with a bin waiver scheme as promised over 3 years ago. Deputy Sherlock said: “We have had Minister after Minister give excuse after…
Read more »Next steps in extending HPV vaccine must be examined
Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has welcomed the extension of the HPV vaccine to boys and has said that Minister Harris must now examine the next steps in providing the HPV vaccine to those who did not have the opportunity to get the vaccine. Deputy Kelly said: “Today is a particularly poignant day…
Read more »Harris needs to answer questions on Departmental treatment of patient advocate Lorriane Walsh
Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has called for an explanation from the Minister for Health for the appalling treatment of patient advocate Lorraine Walsh, and said the Minister must also explain why he and his officials dragged their feet on the release of this information, and what Minister Harris knew of this dispute. Deputy…
Read more »Burning Amazon must be a priority for EU leaders
Responding to remarks by Brazil President Bolsonaro about fires in the Amazon, as well as scientific reports about the risks of the permanent loss of the Amazon jungle in Brazil due to deforestation undermining the rainforest’s ability to regenerate over time, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, called for the Taoiseach and…
Read more »City Council must not grant permission for smaller co-living units
Labour Party Councillor for the South East Inner City, Kevin Donoghue has today submitted a motion to Dublin City Council opposing Co-Living units being delivered under the minimum 12m/sq established in the Fine Gael guidelines. The motion was submitted following reports at the weekend that a developer had made a request to Dublin City Council…
Read more »Corbyn proposal is most realistic alternative to Operation Chaos
Responding to the report in the Sunday Times today on revelations from the UK Government ‘Yellowhammer’ report about the consequences of a no deal Brexit, Brendan Howlin said: “This confirms our worst fears for the impact of a no deal Brexit and shows the recklessness of the current strategy being pursued by the British Government…
Read more »Corbyn initiative to prevent No Deal welcome
Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD has welcomed the Jeremy Corbyn initiative to prevent no deal Brexit at Westminster. The Labour Leader said: “This is the space we need to be moving into given the constitutional difficulties that face No Deal opponents in the UK. Corbyn’s offer of a temporary Government to extend Article 50…
Read more »McHugh’s comments on third level show a lack of vision
Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has branded Minister Joe McHugh’s recent comments on access to third level as an insult. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Minister McHugh’s comments relating to students who face financial burdens are deeply disturbing and should be withdrawn. “Unfortunately, they give an insight into the mindset of a Fine Gael…
Read more »Answers needed on government sabotage of key environment programme
Labour TD Alan Kelly has slammed the Government for its willingness to sabotage the environment with the cancellation of the Deep Retrofit Pilot programme with up to €20million investment in the scheme now set to be lost. Deputy Kelly who is vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee has said that this issue must be urgently…
Read more »Labour launches plan to tackle back to school costs
Launching the Labour Party’s proposals on tackling back to school costs, Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has said the Government aren’t doing enough to lower the costs associated with going back to school. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “We know that parents are under pressure to ensure children are ready to head back to…
Read more »Independent Chair needed for Beef Talks without pre-conditions
Labour Agriculture Spokesperson Willie Penrose TD has called on the Minister to appoint an independent chair to facilitate talks between the Beef Plan movement and farmers representatives, with the processing sector who he said should agree to meet without pre-conditions. Deputy Penrose said: “The beef sector is facing an existential crisis, and market conditions continue…
Read more »How many ways can one screening programme mess up?
Commenting on the news that Cervical Check have sent incorrect letters to 400 women, Labour Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD said: “How many ways can one screening programme completely mess up providing women with the right information? “Some of the 400 women were told that they didn’t have HPV, when they are in fact HPV…
Read more »Colleges using student housing as a way to make quick cash
Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said third-level institutions are taking advantage of the housing crisis. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “Third-level institutions across the country are using the housing crisis as a way to make a quick buck. “The housing crisis we are now facing is becoming a prevalent feature in Irish society…
Read more »Dept of Health & HSE still haven’t learned CervicalCheck lessons
Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said that the MacCraith report into the CervicalCheck IT failure highlights the fractured relationship between the Department of Health and CervicalCheck patient advocates. Deputy Kelly said: “Today’s report by Professor MacCraith makes for interesting reading, especially the fractured state of affairs between the Department of Health and…
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