Type: Press

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has raised concerns over the funds being allocated to the Fair Deal scheme and has called for reform to the way the scheme is being administered for farming families. Deputy Kelly said: “I am concerned that reform of the Fair Deal scheme has stalled despite commitments in the…

Labour Equality Spokesperson Cllr. Deirdre Kingston has called on the Minister for Health and the HSE to redouble efforts and deliver on commitments made in the National Breastfeeding Strategy.    “Ireland has some of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world, and there is a direct link between the lack of support for new mothers and…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has said that Ireland continues to be a laggard when it comes to providing oncology medicines to patients on public waiting lists. This comes as private health insurers have told oncologists that certain oncology medicines will be available to private patients in private hospitals. Deputy Kelly said: “The…

‘As EU advises ‘caution’ on increasing incinerator capacity in Ireland, we must invest in recycling and green jobs’ Ireland South Labour European election candidate, Sheila Nunan has warned that new binding EU waste recycling targets due to take effect from July 2020 and covering the period to 2035, should prompt a major rethink of the…

Speaking at the debate on the Government’s overseas aid policy, Labour leader Brendan Howlin TD called for a law, like in the UK, to ensure all governments are obliged to meet Ireland’s target of raising overseas aid to 0.7% of GNI by 2030.   Deputy Howlin said: “The Government has pledged to meet Ireland’s longstanding…

Labour Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Willie Penrose TD has asked the Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, Michael Ring, to make funds available through the Rural Regeneration Fund to reopen Killucan railway station and make rail travel more accessible rural communities. Deputy Penrose raised this issue in the Dáil during a debate on Rural and Community Affairs.  Speaking…

Labour Spokesperson for Equality, Cllr. Deirdre Kingston has welcomed the extension of Tulsa’s review of the numbers of refuge spaces needed for domestic abuse victims.  Cllr. Kingston said; “I welcome the news that Minister Zappone has admitted that there needs to be a review of the way in which Tusla calculates the number of refuge spaces…

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed the news that An Bord Pleanála has approved a proposed housing development for Poolbeg West and has called on Minister Murphy to expedite the commitment of funding for the social and affordable homes included in the plan.  Senator Humphreys said: “I welcome the news today that An Bord Pleanála has approved the construction of…

Dominic Hannigan, the Labour Party’s European Election candidate in the Midlands North West constituency, has issued the following statement in response to Peter Casey’s announcement today (10.04.19) that he will contest the European election: “At a time when European unity is under threat, and there has been a global rise in far-right extremism, Ireland needs…

Sheila Nunan expresses concern at youth unemployment figures Ireland South European election candidate, Sheila Nunan, responded to new employment figures published at yesterday’s ‘Future of Work’ European Commission Conference, noting that the commission must go even further in order to improve employment opportunities for young people here in Ireland. Ms Nunan said: “The Socialists and…

– Communities need reassurance after spate of robberies – Labour candidate for the Midlands – North West, Dominic Hannigan, today urged the CEOs of the main retail banks to give a commitment to rural communities that ATM services will be maintained at current levels. Hannigan made his call in the wake of a spate of…

Labour’s motion before the Dáil today calls for a fundamental shift in the approach of the Government’s housing policy. Labour spokesperson on housing, planning and local government, Jan O’Sullivan TD, will lead on the private members business. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “There are now over 10,000 homeless people in Ireland at any one time, while the…

Labour Party Health spokesperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee has said that the PWC report into the National Childrens’ Hospital vindicates predictions that costs of the project could rise up to €2 billion and serious lessons must be learned. Deputy Kelly said: “Back in January under my questioning the Department of Health were…

Labour Spokesperson on Urban Regeneration, Joe Costello, has described as ‘very disappointing’ the news of possibility that the redevelopment of Phibsoborough Shopping Centre may not go ahead.  Mr. Costello said:  “The media report today that the €50 million redevelopment of the Shopping Centre in Phibsborough may not now go ahead is very disappointing. The Shopping Centre…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has described the fact that there are 631 patients waiting on a hospital bed today as unacceptable. This comes as the INMO have confirmed that over 631 people are on trolleys today. Deputy Kelly said: “We are now near the middle of April, the worst of the winter…

Sheila Nunan urges young constituents to vote in upcoming local and European elections. Ireland South European election candidate, Sheila Nunan, has spoken of the need to involve young voters in European politics. Ms Nunan spent the day meeting with constituents in Cork city centre, as well as attending engagements in UCC and in the Crawford…

Speaking in response to the threat of racism and xenophobia in Irish politics, the leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, called on all political parties to publicly pledge to refuse any coalition or co-operation with political parties, groups or individuals who espouse racism or xenophobic anti-migrant policies. Deputy Howlin said: “Labour Councillors, MEPs,…

Today in Cork, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin was joined by our five first time candidates for Cork City Council to launch ‘Our Vision for Cork’ along with our Euro candidate for Ireland South, Sheila Nunan; Seán Sherlock TD and candidate for Cork North Central Kathleen Lynch. Labour is running five new candidates all under…

Dominic Hannigan, the Labour Party’s European Election candidate in the Midlands North West constituency, has called for a ban on gay conversion programmes in Ireland. Mr. Hannigan – one of the first two openly gay TDs elected to Dáil Éireann – said that, if elected, he will work towards progressing a Europe-wide solution to the…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has described as ‘alarming’ the reports that LGBTQ “conversion” materials and programmes are being offered in Ireland. Senator Bacik is a co-sponsor of legislation currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas seeking a ban on so-called “conversion therapies” being offered in Ireland.  Sen. Bacik said;“I find it alarming to hear reports that organisations in operation in Ireland today are seeking to…

Labour Party candidate for Ireland South, and President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Sheila Nunan has called on the Fine Gael Government to put together a proper bid for Ireland to host the new European Labour Authority (ELA) and said Cork would be a viable location. Nunan said: “It’s not too often that…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly has described the three month recruitment and overtime embargo introduced by the HSE so early into 2019 as extraordinary, and called for an urgent explanation on what positions can be recruited, and what is now blocked. The letter specifically says no new or replacement posts can proceed to offer stage….

Yesterday’s shooting in Belcamp shows the urgent need to increase the number of local community Gardaí. For too long low level anti-social behaviour has gone un-responded to due to lack of local Garda resources. This sends out the message that this behaviour is acceptable and allows many young people engaged in such behaviour to become…

Labour Spokesperson for Equality Cllr. Deirdre Kingston has called once again for Minister Zappone to clarify if she has instructed Tusla to use the correct European guidelines for the establishment of accommodation for domestic violence.  Cllr. Kingston said: ”This time last week I asked the Minister to clarify if she had directed Tusla to use…