Type: Press

Labour Spokesperson on Employment Affairs, Senator Ged Nash, has called on the government to make 2019 the year of the Living Wage. The rapid increase in the cost of living over the last four years warrants an appropriate response from Government. Senator Nash said: “Thanks to the work of the Low Pay Commission which I…

The Chairperson of the Labour Party, Jack O’Connor, is calling on the Government to  re-introduce the State Pension, (Transition), for workers who have to leave their employment because they have a contract requiring them to retire at 65, as well as for those who no longer feel they are able to continue working after their…

Labour will support those who continue to fly the flag of Labour politics and social democracy in Northern Ireland. Reacting to the latest indication of a possible alliance between parts of the SDLP and Fianna Fáil, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin said: “It is a matter for the membership of the SDLP to chart their…

Reacting to the news that the UK will commit over £100m chartering ferries in preparation for a no deal Brexit, Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD has called on the Irish Government to immediately move to bolster and diversify our sea transport links to the EU, which are already being reduced next year. Deputy Howlin…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has reacted to the Government’s contingency plan for the UK leaving the EU on 29th March with no agreement. Deputy Howlin said: “The Government has at last published its Brexit contingency plan, 100 days before the UK could well leave the EU with no deal. “While it is clear…

Labour Spokesperson for Transport, Senator Kevin Humphreys has criticised the Minister for Transport following the RSA call for the Minister to remove the dangerously placed sleigh, branded with his name and face, on top of a car which was a clear road hazard.  Commenting Senator Humphreys said:  “It seems to be a case of ‘do as I say,…

Reacting to the Minister for Health’s announcement that there will be a statutory tribunal into claims from CervicalCheck, Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has said that legislation around this needs to be enacted as soon as possible in the new year.  Deputy Kelly said:  “Minister Harris needs to ensure that the legislation that…

Senator Ged Nash has said that the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018 which passed in the Dáil this evening will transform the lives and living standards of tens of thousands of workers on casual and low hours contracts. Sen. Nash said: “These new laws have been four years in the making. These reforms started life…

Labour Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Willie Penrose, T.D. has called on the Minster or Education grant funding for a second level school to serve Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath.  Deputy Penrose said:    ” Kinnegad is the third largest town in Westmeath and has a significant hinterland. It has one of the largest rural-based primary schools in the county,…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said that Minister Simon Harris must explain what is being cut out of the Health capital budget because of the Children’s Hospital overspend. Deputy Kelly said: “Minister Harris needs to come before the Health Committee or the Public Accounts Committee to account for how a project which…

Labour Spokesperson for Education Senator Aodhán Ó Riordan has criticised government education strategy which is too concerned with the will of corporate bodies. Commenting today Senator Ó Riordan said: “The recent decision to give corporations a say over €300 million in education spending is a worrying development. Any private interest group having this level of…

Labour Party Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has said that the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Health need to urgently produce a road map for pay equality to prevent further staff shortages in our health services. This comes as nurses in the INMO have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. Deputy Kelly said:  “It…

Leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD responded to a report that the Taoiseach intends to pass 45 pieces of legislation next year in advance of Brexit. Deputy Howlin said: “I have been asking the Taoiseach for months to publish the details of all of the legislation that will be necessary in preparation for…

Responding to a report by the ESRI on the Leaving Certificate curriculum, Labour Party Eduction spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said that there needs to be significant reforms to the Leaving Certificate to alleviate stress on young students. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “The findings by the ESRI are extremely worrying. Anecdotally, we have known for…

Mayor of Galway, and Labour spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr. Niall McNelis has been supporting the ONE Galway “My Tip, My Reward” campaign. Significant numbers of workers in the food service industry do not receive the tips which customers leave for them, a practice which needs to come to an end. Commenting on the campaign, Mayor…

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has slammed the Minister for Health for losing control of the construction budget of the National Children’s Hospital, and questioned the impact of this on other health capital projects. Deputy Kelly will be asking the Public Accounts Committee to examine the costs incurred to date to understand how this…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has called for the Fine Gael Government and Fianna Fáil to commit to releasing all the documentation prepared by public servants for use during recent talks to review and extend the confidence and supply agreement. Deputy Howlin said: “It is clear that an election should not be held in…

The Labour Party is delighted to announce that Emmanuella Jagha, of Westmeath, is the recipient of the 2018 Richard O’Carroll Empowerment Bursary which was first awarded in 2016 as part of the Labour Party’s centenary commemoration of the 1916 Rising. Emmanuella Jagha who completed her Leaving Certificate at Columba College Killucan is now a second-year…

Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan is calling on the Minister for Housing to explain why less than half of the social housing promised for 2018 has been delivered by the end of the 3rd quarter of 2018. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “The Minister for Housing has to explain the figures released today that show only 48% of the…

Labour Party Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill approved by Cabinet today is a weak attempt at solving the issues that are prevalent in the rental market. Deputy O’Sullivan said: “While there are positives in this Bill, it is a half-baked response to the crisis in the private rental…

Labour Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs, Sean Sherlock TD, has called for a coordinated response to the revelations of over 300 alleged victims of abuse within Scouting Ireland. Commenting today Deputy Sherlock said: “These figures released by Minister Zappone of over 300 alleged victims of abuse within Scouting Ireland is devastating, but not surprising….

Speaking in response to the announcement by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to postpone Parliament’s vote on the Withdrawal Agreement, leader of the Labour Party called for Leo Varadkar and the Government to hold firm. Deputy Howlin said: “Months ago, I cautioned the Taoiseach that there was a risk of Ireland’s interests being a bargaining…

Speaking in reaction to the latest developments in the UK, leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD said that the way is now open for a People’s Vote with the option to the remain in the EU. Deputy Howlin said: “It is becoming clearer every day that the UK Parliament cannot resolve the Brexit…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has said there needs to be hard policy decisions when it comes to climate change, not just empty promises from the Fine Gael government. This comes as the 2019 Climate Change Performance Index has found that Ireland is the lowest ranked member of the European Union. Deputy Howlin said:…