Type: Press

Labour Seanad Leader, Ivana Bacik, has welcomed the cross-party support received for the Labour Party’s Bill designed to close the gender pay gap. Commenting today Senator Bacik said: “I was delighted to see such broad political support for the Labour Party’s Gender Pay Gap Bill which was before the Dail last night. Members of Fianna…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the Government to use the Labour Party legislation to implement gender pay gap reporting. This comes as the Labour group in the Dáil progresses legislation from the Seanad to introduce gender pay gap reporting for companies with staff of 50 or more.  Deputy Howlin said: “After…

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD, has called on the government to take action on raising awareness of HIV testing and treatment. Deputy Howlin said: “The rise in rates of HIV diagnosis in recent years is very worrying. Diagnosed cases have seen a steady increase year on year since 2011. This year alone there have…

Labour Spokesperson on Heritage and Culture has called on the Chairman of the Oireachtas Finance Committee to invite the OPW before the committee to provide clarification on spending regarding the Papal Visit. Commenting today Deputy Burton said; “The Oireachtas Finance committee have received supplementary estimates of €20,000,000 required for the Papal Visit. The members of…

Labour Spokesperson on Finance, Joan Burton TD, has called on Minister Paschal Donohoe to establish a standing commission on tax. Commenting today Deputy said: “The ‘Single Malt’ tax loophole shows the need for a standing commission on tax. After the ‘Double Irish’ loophole was closed in 2014, the ‘single malt’ replaced it. Multinational companies have…

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has called on the Minister for Health to make the drug Pembrolizumab available to all cervical cancer patients who need it. Deputy Kelly said: “I am calling on the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to make the drug Pembrolizumab available for all cervical cancer patients who require it…

Speaking in advance of the publication of a report from independent auditor Peter Smyth into the tender process for the State’s rural broadband scheme, Leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD pointed out serious problems with the current direction of government policy and set out three tests for the Government’s broadband policy. Deputy Howlin…

Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has described the treatment of patients in receipt of the DePuy hip replacement implants as ‘wholly unacceptable’ Commenting today Deputy Kelly said: “The news today of serious health and mobility deterioration for patients having received the DePuy hip replacement devices, which have now been taken off the market, is shocking. Yet again…

Labour Party Spokesperson on Social Protection, Willie Penrose TD, has called on the government to ring-fence funding for Phase 2 of the National Carers’ Strategy for the period 2019 to 2022. Commenting today Deputy Penrose said; “In Ireland today, all home care supports are discretionary and, therefore, the service is a resource rather than needs-led….

Labour Party education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said that a radical approach is needed to address the major shortcomings in State supports for children with special needs. Senator Ó Ríordáin said: “I have been advocating for indvidual cases from across the country since I became Labour Education Spokesperson and the stories are harrowing. “The…

Labour Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said the lack of staff in our sexual assault treatment units is a national scandal waiting to happen in our health service. According to figures provided by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, there are only six staff working full time in the six sexual assault units around the…

Labour TD for Limerick, Jan O’Sullivan, is encouraging people to shop local this Black Friday weekend. Commenting today Deputy O’Sullivan said; “In the run-up to Christmas, we all like to look for a deal where we can. However, when it comes to Black Friday the vast majority of money spent goes into companies based outside…

Speaking in relation to the draft political declaration of the future relationship between the EU and the UK, Leader of the Labour Party Brendan Howlin TD referred to the draft text as creating a plausible foundation for a durable long-term partnership, but serious questions remain unanswered. Deputy Howlin said: “Labour welcomes the core commitments in…

Labour Spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has encouraged members of the public to attend the upcoming Housing and Homelessness Coalition National Demonstration on December 1st. Commenting today Deputy O’Sullivan said; “On the 1st of December the public, along with political parties and trade unions have the opportunity to march in the National Homelessness &…

Labour Party Employment spokesperson, Ged Nash, has said we must examine working time legislation and its relationship to productivity as the world of work changes. This follows the Fórsa Trade Union Future of Working Time Conference. Senator Nash said: “The world of work is changing rapidly and workers are increasingly being made feel like they…

Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has reiterated his opposition to the National Maternity Hospital being run with a Catholic ethos, or under the influence of any religious order. Commenting today Deputy Kelly said: “The new National Maternity Hospital at St. Vincent’s will be a publically funded maternity hospital and as such should be…

Brexit revealed the very serious inability of our public discourse to deal with complex issues, such as what is entailed by membership of the EU.   Looking back over the last five decades, the British media has portrayed the European Union in a simplistic and hostile way. If someone only read the front page of…

Labour Transport spokesperson, Senator Kevin Humphreys has said that the city centre traffic chaos over the last few days shows once again the urgent need for the reinstatement of Operation Freeflow. Senator Humphreys said: “I have repeatedly raised the need for a reintroduction of Operation Freeflow to deal with the ongoing traffic chaos in Dublin,…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has welcomed the publication of the Gillen Review into the trial of serious sexual offences in Northern Ireland. Speaking today Senator Bacik said:  “It is very positive to see a series of considered recommendations emerging from the Gillen Review as to reforms to the trial process for serious sexual offences in Northern Ireland,…

Labour spokesperson on Housing Jan O’Sullivan TD has expressed horror at landlords expecting tenants to share a bed with a stranger. Commenting today Deputy O’Sullivan said; “Stories in the news today of renters being charged €550 to share a bed with a stranger are horrifying. This signifies a new low in the treatment of tenants in…

Speaking on International Men’s Day, Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said we must do more to tackle the stigma around men’s mental health. Deputy Kelly said: “Rates of young men dying by suicide are still too high and rates of self-harm amongst young men are still incredibly worrying. Urgent action is needed…

Labour spokesperson on Children, Sean Sherlock TD, has called on the government to implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Children report into Childhood obesity.  Speaking today Deputy Sherlock said; “We all know that when it comes to obesity, prevention is better than cure. What is so worrying about the growth in childhood obesity…

Labour Party Leader, and TD for Wexford Brendan Howlin has called on the Department of Health and HSE to ensure sufficient resources are put in place to clear the waiting lists for home help supports. It comes as Wexford was revealed to have the third highest waiting list for home support services. Deputy Howlin said:…

Labour Spokesperson on Children, Sean Sherlock TD, has called on Minister Katherine Zappone to outline what actions will be taken to address the issues raised in reports by HIQA into special care units. Commenting today Deputy Sherlock said: “Today there were five reports published by HIQA following the inspection of Tusla managed special care units….