Type: Press

Labour Party Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said the Government’s three strikes and you’re out approach to personal use of drugs is destined to fail. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The Government had a once in a generation opportunity to radically change our approach to drugs policy and they have failed abysmally. “It is absolutely ridiculous…

Responding to the Waterford IT study finding that workers in the South East typically earn half the national average, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, said that the Project Ireland 2040 plan needs to be re-written to increase investment and economic opportunities in Wexford and the South East region. Deputy Howlin said:…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said trolley numbers for the month of July have been completely unacceptable and are a sign of things to come for the bleak winter months in our health service. This comes as the INMO have confirmed that over 9,939 people were without a bed through the month…

Reacting to revelations indicating that both the ECB and two former Governors have expressed concerns about the new Central Bank Governor, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, has repeated his call for a further examination of the appointment of Mr Gabriel Makhlouf. Brendan said: “The Department of Finance has played down the…

Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan has warned developers of planned co-living units that the Labour Party would seek the implementation of a super tax on co-living developments that have already been built and would change the law to stop future developments. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “A 208 unit co-living scheme has now been granted permission in…

Costello to host public meeting on sale of Church lands in Drumcondra and the potential for developing heritage and environmental trails. Cllr Joe Costello, Labour’s Spokesperson on Urban Regeneration,  is holding a public meeting in the Croke Park Hotel at 8pm on Wednesday 31 July to discuss proposals for a nature and heritage North City…

Johnson’s desired changes to the withdrawal agreement are not possible: it is time for the Government to escalate no deal preparations Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, said it is clear that the new UK Prime Minister’s hard line attitude is intended to push the EU into granting new concessions that would be to Ireland’s…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly has said it is unacceptable that a cap on sufficient funding for home help supports and the Fair Deal scheme means older people are bearing the brunt of Government cutbacks. Deputy Kelly said: “Cutbacks in front line funding for home supports and the Fair Deal scheme is having a drastic…

Labour Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said the HSE must take heed of warnings from hospital consultants on safe staffing at the National Children’s Hospital. Deputy Kelly said: “The warnings from paediatric consultants about safe staffing for the urgent care centre at Connolly Hospital are extremely stark and give us a glimpse at some…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly, has called on Fine Gael to take political ownership of ensuring a drug injecting centre is delivered. Deputy Kelly said: “It is disappointing that planning permission has been denied for a drug injecting centre in Dublin. “Fine Gael and in particular Ministers Simon Harris and Catherine Byrne need to…

Reacting to comments by the hard line UK Conservative European Research Group MPs, who have threatened to block any revival of the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Theresa May even without the Irish backstop, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the Government to actively engage the EU on detailing the…

Labour Party Senator, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said the rejection of planning permission for a drug injecting centre is devastating. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The news today that planning permission has been rejected for an injecting centre is a huge let down for everyone who has been pushing for this project. “There has been a…

Labour Dublin City Councillor Joe Costello has welcomed the decision by the OPW to reinstate visitor books and said: “The decision by the OPW to reinstate Visitor Books to heritage sites is most welcome.  But why did the OPW not consult with the Data Protection Commission before they made the totally erroneous decision to remove…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan has welcomed plans to retrofit local authority homes across the country but has said more has to be done to reduce fuel poverty. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “This announcement by the Minister for Housing will allow local authorities from across the country to ramp up retrofitting programmes. “I have been…

Labour Children & Youth Affairs spokesperson Seán Sherlock has called for urgent action by the Minister, and Tusla, to address the shocking revelations on RTE Investigates last night, and said it shows we need to look at a new approach to childcare in Ireland. Deputy Sherlock said: “As a parent, it was impossible to watch…

Duncan Smith, Labour Councillor for Swords, has stated that the new proposed day hospital planned for Swords will be a private hospital and will not assist in tackling the long waiting lists for much needed operations. Councillor Smith said: “This announcement is being flagged by local Government representatives as a great new service which will…

Labour TD for Longford-Westmeath, Willie Penrose has called on Bord Na Móna and the Government to ensure workers affected by plant closures are treated with respect and for it to engage with unions, and change its approach to the recent layoffs, and he said that the Midlands must not be abandoned following the latest An…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson and TD for Limerick City, Jan O’Sullivan TD has called on Minister Eoghan Murphy to extend free travel to homeless families outside of Dublin. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “While it is welcome that free travel has been extended to homeless families in Dublin for the month of August, this same opportunity should…

Reacting to the announcement that Boris Johnson MP has been elected as leader of the Conservative party and presumptive UK Prime Minister, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, called on the Taoiseach to hold firm in the face of pressure to diminish the legal protections for Ireland’s open border with Northern Ireland….

Labour Justice spokesperson Seán Sherlock has called on the Minister for Justice to confirm without delay that he will appeal the High Court ruling on citizenship, and provide clarification on the impact it will have on future applications, and what impact if any it will have for the thousands of people who have been naturalised…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has criticised the Fianna Fáil Leader’s position on student loans. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “After over three years of humming and hawing, the leader of Fianna Fáil has said his Party would consider implementing student loans if in Government. “This shows appallingly poor judgement by Deputy Martin. Student…

Responding to the announcement of new HSE regional structures, Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly asked why was this announcement delayed until the Dáil was in recess, expressed surprise at the Minister promoting these Slaintecare reforms as his idea, and questioned why it has taken so long to get to this point. Deputy Kelly said: “The…

Labour Justice spokesperson Seán Sherlock has called on the Minister to swiftly address the impact of a High Court ruling today on citizenship by appealing it, and providing clarification on the impact on future applications, and certainty for the thousands of people who have been naturalised under the law in recent years. The phrase ‘continuous…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed the decision by the Minister for Culture and Hertigate not to implement extended hedge cutting periods allowed for under the Heritage Act (2018) but has criticised Minster Madigan for progressing the legislation in the first place. He has described the move as being ‘electorally, not environmentally motivated”. Senator Humphreys said:“I…