Type: Press

Labour Senator Kevin Humphrys has requested that Irish Water establish a same day text alert system for users of Dublin Bay to alert people of swimming bans over the summer months.  Senator Humphreys said: “The worrying statement from the EPA today, coupled with recent swimming bans highlight the need for same text alerts for users…

Labour Housing Spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan TD has reiterated calls for the entire country to be classified as a rent pressure zone. Deputy O’Sullivan has called for a public awareness campaign regarding renters rights.  Deputy O’Sullivan said “I welcome improvements for renters announced today, particularly the inclusion of all of Limerick City in a Rent Pressure…

Commenting on her election as chairperson of the Dublin City Council Housing Strategic Policy Committee, Labour Councillor for Artane-Whitehall, Alison Gilliland has said housing will be one of the greatest challenges over the next five years in our capital city. Councillor Gilliland said: “I am delighted to have been elected by my colleagues to chair…

Ahead of tonight’s meeting of Dublin City Council, the Labour Party’s Rebecca Moynihan has called on Dublin City Council to begin the process of taking back control of the Iveagh Markets. Councillor Moynihan said: “It is nearly two years on since Dublin City Council backed my call to take back control of the iconic Iveagh…

Labour Party Agriculture spokesperson, Willie Penrose TD, has called for the Mercosur deal to be rejected by Ireland. Deputy Penrose said: “This is a bad deal for Irish farmers. It will be bad for the economy and bad for the environment. Minister Creed and the Taoiseach should not support its ratification. “Currently, nine out of…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has expressed his concern at the high levels of women waiting for gynaecological appointments in Ireland. Deputy Kelly said: “Through the launch of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association Care Can’t Wait campaign, the true levels of the numbers waiting on specialist appointments are being released. The numbers of…

Speaking in response to news reports of the Taoiseach’s opposition to Frans Timmermans for European Commission President, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, criticised Leo Varadkar for supporting right-wing nationalists over an experienced politician who understands and supports Ireland’s concerns in relation to Brexit. Deputy Howlin said: “It was disappointing and disturbing…

Labour Party Dublin City Councillor for Artane – Whitehall, Alison Gilliland, has called on the Minister for Housing to release funding to implement the Vienna model of housing in Dublin City. Councillor Gilliland said: “An exhibition of the Vienna Model of Public Housing was opened in Dublin City Council Offices in Wood Quay this morning….

Responding the May homeless figures, Labour Housing Spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called on Fine Gael to change tact on reducing homelessness. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “It is completely unacceptable that housing figures have now reached 10,253 people including 3,749 children. As primary schools across the country break up for the summer today, thousands of children…

Speaking in advance of Dublin Pride this weekend and the series of LGBT Pride events coming up around Ireland, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, reflected on unfinished business to ensure full equality for all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Deputy Howlin said: “Labour has been to the…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly has slammed Fianna Fáil for betraying carers in a Dáil vote today on the Labour Party motion calling for increased supports for family carers. Despite pledging support for it last night, Fianna Fáíl today performed a massive u-turn by supporting the Government amendment, and then voting down the amended motion…

Labour TD for Fingal, Brendan Ryan, spoke in favour of his party’s motion in support of carers in Dáil Éireann this week. The Labour Party motion called for measures such as the phasing out of means testing on carers allowance and increased supports for carers who face isolation and poor health themselves.   Deputy Ryan said;…

Labour Finance Spokesperson Joan Burton TD has called for the Minster for Finance to make a statement to the Dáil regarding the findings in New Zealand against the incoming Central bank Governor, Mr Gabriel Makhlouf, and reassure members of the Oireachtas that the position of Governor will not be damaged by the controversy. Deputy Burton…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has criticised the Minister for Housing, and his Department, accusing them of dragging their feet on implementing new regulations around short term lets. Senator Humphreys said: “The new regulations on short term lets are due to take effect on the 1st of July. Yet the Department of Housing has only just…

Commenting on the Engineers Ireland ‘State of Ireland 2019’ report, Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called for a cross-departmental plan to urgently respond to the concerns raised in the report. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The report published today from Engineers Ireland says that 600,000 people in this country are living in poor housing conditions…

  Dáil Éireann: recalls that – Ireland has ratified both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, these UN Conventions place a duty on Ireland to ensure that children and adults with mental or physical disabilities should enjoy a full…

Labour Finance spokesperson Joan Burton has criticised the Summer Economic Statement for being devoid of detail on what approach the Government will take in the event of a no deal Brexit on 31st October as it doesn’t include any detail of what additional spending may be required, or what EU funding has been secured to…

Labour Party Spokesperson for Social Protection, Willie Penrose TD, has called on Minster Doherty to address the issue of means-testing for recipients of carers allowance. This is just one of the proposals in a Labour Party’s Private Member’s motion on carers, due before the Dáil on Wednesday evening.  Deputy Penrose said:  “For the past twenty…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has accused Fine Gael of letting down healthcare workers. Deputy Kelly said: “Healthcare workers with their union SIPTU signed up to a transparent process of evaluation but the Government and the Department of Public Expenditure are seeking to undermine that and walk away from their commitments. “Unfortunately, the…

Reacting to the outcomes of the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday, leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, said that the new four-party coalition in the European Parliament needs to demonstrate a real change of direction from the past ten years of European economic policy. Brendan said: “The failure of European leaders…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has called on the Minister for Health to guarantee that the HPV vaccine for first year second level boys will be rolled out in September, and that the HSE recruitment embargo he has put in place won’t delay it. Deputy Kelly said: “I am calling on Minister for Health…

Responding to comments by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that there is “enormous hostility” among European leaders to a Brexit extension, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the Taoiseach to champion an extension in Ireland’s national interest. Brendan said: “It is totally unacceptable for the Taoiseach to be talking up hostility…

Labour TD for Fingal, Brendan Ryan, has called for prioritisation of public transport routes in North County Dublin. Following the publication of government environmental action plan this week, Deputy Ryan has said it is time for “less talk, and more action” on climate change. Deputy Ryan said: “The publication of the government’s plan on climate…

The Labour Party’s Alan Kelly TD and Senator Ged Nash have called on the Government to honour their ‘solemn commitment’ to hospital support staff as the country’s acute hospitals prepare for strike action involving 10,000 staff this Thursday. Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD said: “The Government must honour their commitment to over 10,000 healthcare…