Type: Press

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said Minister Paschal Donohoe has as many questions to answer on the mismanagement in the spending of the National Children’s Hospital as Minister Simon Harris. Deputy Kelly said: “On RTÉ Radio One, Paschal Donohoe stated that he wasn’t aware of the National Children’s Hospital overspend until last…

Former Irish soccer international Niall Quinn will join a panel of speakers at a public meeting tonight aimed at assessing how politics can help the development of football in Ireland.  The event takes place in The Beachcomber, Killester at 8pm tonight, Monday February 4th. Senator Aodhán Ó Riordáin and Labour’s Sport Spokesperson Cllr Mark Wall…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has called on the Minister for Health to act and hold those who are responsible, accountable for the soaring costs of the National Children’s Hospital. Deputy Kelly said: “A pointless review is underway into the costs of the National Children’s Hospital where no one will be held responsible. “The…

Cllr Dermot Lacey, a Labour City Councillor for Pembroke and former Lord Mayor of Dublin, has branded the proposals by Minister John Paul Phelan to set the salary of the three new County Mayors at the same level as that of a Junior minister as disgraceful. Cllr Lacey has also called on the Minister to…

Deputy Willie Penrose has raised the issue of restoration of allowances for members of the Defence Forces with An Taoiseach and Minister for Defence. Deputy Penrose said; “I asked the Minister for Defence and An Taoiseach, the status of the review taking place within the consultation procedure in respect of restoration of the allowances to…

Labour TD Willie Penrose has welcomed today’s announcement from Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor that changes to the minimum entry requirements for the Professional Master of Education (PME) for primary teaching will not now come into effect until September 2020. Deputy Penrose said:  “I am delighted to receive the news that Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connell has…

Following his questioning at today’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, Labour Party Health spokesperson and Vice-Chair of the PAC, Alan Kelly TD, has expressed concern that top officials in the Department of Health not being able to confirm if costs of the National Children’s Hospital.  Deputy Kelly said: “It is extremely worrying that the…

After meeting nurses on the picket line in University Hospital Limerick, the country’s most consistently overcrowded hospital, Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has called on the Government to take the concerns nurses have seriously. Deputy Kelly said: “The nurses I met outside University Hospital Limerick this morning don’t want to be on strike…

Brendan Howlin, TD for Wexford and Labour Party Leader, has extended his congratulations to the team at the Dunbrody Famine Ship and Irish Immigrant Experience, Co. Wexford. Dunbrody Famine Ship was awarded a Merit Award at the 29th International Annual CIE Tours Awards of Excellence. Deputy Howlin said: “I would like to extend my warmest…

Brendan Howlin TD, leader of the Labour Party, reacted to the latest developments in Westminster and called on the Taoiseach to hold firm on Ireland’s need for a legally-binding agreement to keep the border open, and that any future EU-UK trade deal must commit to that. Deputy Howlin said: “While the UK exiting the EU…

Labour Justice Spokesperson, Senator Ivana Bacik, has welcomed the government’s decision to hold  a referendum on divorce.    The referendum will ask people to approve an amendment to Article 41.3.2 of the Constitution to remove the minimum living apart period for spouses applying for a divorce.    Senator Bacik said;   “I welcome the announcement today that…

Labour TD and Chair of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health has described as ‘essential’ the delivery of objective Sexual Education. Deputy O’Sullivan said; “The recommendations from the Oireachtas Education Committee, of which I am a member, is broadly in line with the recommendation on Sex Education of the Oireachtas Committee…

Labour TD for Dublin West, Joan Burton TD today introduced in the Dáil her Informal Adoptions (Regularisation) Bill 2018 which if passed into law would provide legal certainty following the illegal registration of informal adoptions where a false birth certificate was issued. Introducing the bill, Deputy Burton said: “Adoption was first introduced to Ireland and…

Following his questioning at today’s Health Committee, Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, said that despite layers of oversight, it’s difficult to understand how the overspend of the National Children’s Hospital happened. Deputy Kelly said: Through Parliamentary Questions, I have sought to establish the layers of oversight around the building of the National Children’s…

Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has launched the Public Sector (Plain Language) Bill 2019 which will require all government departments and public bodies to revert to plain and accessible language in their documentation. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “We need to ensure public documents are accessible to everyone. Often those with greater literacy challenges…

Labour Party Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin will launch the Public Sector (Plain Language) Bill today, Tuesday, 29th January, at 11am. This launch will take place in Buswells Hotel with Inez Bailey and Michael Power from the National Adult Literacy Agency available to speak to reporters on the issue. Senator Ó Ríordáin’s Bill aims to…

The Labour Party has selected Dominic Hannigan to contest the Midlands North West constituency in this May’s European Parliament Speaking after the convention Hannigan said: “I am delighted to have been selected as the candidate for the Midlands North West constituency. “My campaign to win a seat begins right now. I will be fighting to…

The Labour Party will hold our European Parliament selection convention for the Midlands North West constituency on Sunday 27th January at 2pm in Mullingar Park Hotel, Co Westmeath. One candidate will be nominated, and there is a contest with two names going forward for selection. These are former Labour TD for Meath East Dominic Hannigan,…

Vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and the Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said that HSE needs to answer questions on the prioritisation of at-risk women when it comes to smear testing. This follows confirmation to Deputy Kelly back in early November that the labs carrying out smear test analysis could not…

Labour Leader Brendan Howlin has called on the Revenue Commissioners to defer the implementation of a 23% increase on food supplements, planned for March 1st until a full review of the decision is carried out.  Deputy Howlin said: “This VAT increase is a tax on making a healthy life choice. There are hundreds of thousands of people across the…

Labour Deputy for Longford Westmeath, has warmly welcomed the response by the Department of Education and Skills, to his question to the Minister on the funding required to effect major infrastructure and refurbishment, works at St. Columba College, Kilucan, which has a current enrolment of 190 students. Deputy Penrose said:  “I have visited the school…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD, has said that news that up to 6,000 women will need to have their smears rechecked will be a worrying development for many women. Deputy Kelly said: “Confirmation from the HSE that 6,000 women will have to get their CervicalCheck tests carried out again will be a cause…

Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton has published a proposed new law that would provide legal certainty for those whose adoptions were illegally registered, and she was joined at the launch by some of those affected by this practise. Deputy Burton said: “In May last year we learned of 126 cases involving the illegal…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, speaking in the Dáil on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, called it a missed opportunity to make real change to the insecurity facing so many people in the private rental sector. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “It could have ended the planned sale of the property as a reason to…