Type: Press

Today, Labour Youth marks Ireland’s Gender Pay Gap day – the day after which women effectively stop earning due to Ireland’s 13.9% gender pay gap.   Speaking on the significance of this day, Labour Youth’s Women and Trans* Officer, Hazel Gavigan said “In comparison to other European countries, the Irish workforce has a relatively low rate…

The Labour Party Seanad Leader Ivana Bacik, has called on the Government to use Labour Party legislation which has already passed all stages in the Seanad to introduce Gender Pay Gap reporting mechanisms. Senator Bacik said: “At around 14%, the pay gap also means that Irish women work for free for around one month of…

Labour spokesperson on Housing Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called for nationwide control on rents which are linked to the cost of living.  Speaking today Deputy O’Sullivan; “Two years on from the legislation that introduced Rent Pressure Zones it is clear that they are not working. “Areas covered by the Zones are seeing rent increases well…

Labour Spokesperson on Transport, Senator Kevin Humphreys has accused the NTA of making public transport more expensive at a time when we need to encourage public transport use. Speaking today Senator Humphreys said; “At a time where we are trying to encourage more users on our buses and on the Luas, the fact that ticket…

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik today called on the Tanaiste Simon Coventry to raise with the British government the case of the arrest in Belfast in August of two journalists and members of the NUJ, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, and the circumstances surrounding that arrest. Speaking about the case, Senator Bacik said: “I understand that the two journalists were released on…

Speaking following the receipt of an answer from the NTA in relation to train fares from Newbridge station, Labour general election candidate, Cllr Mark Wall has once again called for Newbridge to be included in the short hop zone. In her reply to Cllr Wall, the chief executive of the NTA confirms a welcome reduction…

Senator Ged Nash has told the Minister for Health that the HSE’s decision to ditch longstanding plans to include an additional x-ray room in the newly expanded Emergency Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital will lead to more patients on trolleys at the busy A&E in Drogheda.  Speaking in the Seanad today, the Labour…

Speaking in relation to the selection by the Party of European Socialists (PES) of Frans Timmermans as a Common Candidate to seek to succeed Jean-Claude Junker as President of the European Commission, the Leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin, spoke about the importance of voting in the European Parliament elections.  Deputy Howlin said: “The…

Brendan Ryan, Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, has called on Minister Ross to review a plan that will alleviate the overcrowding of main commuter routes on the Irish Rail. Proposing this in the Dáil, Ryan asked the Minister to approve the requests from Irish Rail for additional carriage stock such that capacity can not…

Labour Party Employment Spokesperson, Senator Ged Nash, has said ‘if and when’ contracts should be outlawed. Speaking at the launch of the TASC report on ‘Precarious Work, Precarious Lives’ he said; “’If & When’ contracts represent the worst and most exploitative work arrangement going. “Workers may be offered work on a Monday, but the employer…

  Labour Party General Election candidate, Cllr. John Pratt has called for action on extraordinary waiting lists for outpatients in Waterford, with some patients now waiting up to 4 years.   Cllr. Pratt said:   “Following the raising of this issue in the Dáil with the Minister I am adding my voice to that of…

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has criticised the government for extraordinary waiting lists for outpatients in the South East, with some patients now waiting up to 4 years.  Deputy Howlin said:  “I have raised with the Minister the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce outpatient waiting lists and waiting times, in particular, waiting times…

Labour TD, Jan O’Sullivan, has paid tribute to musician and academic Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin Speaking today Deputy O’Sullivan said: “Micheál Ó’Súilleabháin will be greatly missed for his huge contribution to Irish music but his spirit will live on through all who have heard his music, learned from him and experienced his energy, enthusiasm, and warmth….

Labour Spokesperson on Children Sean Sherlock TD, has welcomed the announcement from HIQA of National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres. Speaking today Deputy Sherlock said: “I welcome the announcement from HIQA of new standards launched to support children living in residential care. With over 400 children in care in Ireland is it of the utmost…

Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has called on the Government to roll out a free sanitary product scheme in all schools. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Ó Ríordain said: “My colleagues Councillors Deirdre Kingston and Councillor Rebecca Moynihan have secured funding to provide free sanitary products in their respective council areas. “In September,…

Labour Party spokesperson on Employment, Ged Nash, has said the latest comments by the Taoiseach on healthcare workers shows how fatally inept Fine Gael is when it comes to industrial relations. Senator Nash said: “The Taoiseach needs to reflect on the comments he made about healthcare workers in the Dáil chamber yesterday. “The root cause…

Labour Party Health spokesperson has said that the Taoiseach is out of touch when it comes to the work nurses do during crisis periods in our health services. Deputy Kelly said: “The comments by the Taoiseach yesterday on nurses and consultants taking annual leave were completely out of touch. The Taoiseach and the Minister for…

Labour Spokesperson for Equality and Councillor in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Deirdre Kingston has welcomed the decision by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to provide free sanitary products in county libraries. Cllr Kingston proposed the initiative at tonight’s Budget meeting. The move follows a decision by Dublin City Council in September following a motion from Cllr….

At the Oireachtas Education Committee today, Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education to agree to hold an inquiry into how the situation with Western Building Systems arose, and in particular the negative impact on schools in Tyrrelstown. He acknowledged that answers were needed. Deputy Burton said: “At the Oireachtas…

Following publication of the NWCI’s ‘Out of Silence’ report into women’s mental health, Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said we must use the Scally Report approach as a template to improve mental health services for women. Deputy Kelly said: “This stark report published by NWCI shows us that Ireland now has the…

Labour Spokesperson on Equality, and General Election Candidate for Dún Laoghaire,Councillor Deirdre Kingston has called on Ministers Eoghan Murphy and Damien English to issue a circular to local councils directing them to pursue Compulsory Purchase Orders on vacant and derelict sites. Speaking today Cllr. Kingston said: “Last night I had a motion passed at the…

Speaking in advance of the Labour Party Conference’s panel discussion on Brexit, involving Claire Hanna MLA (SDLP), Stephen Pound MP (UK Labour), Loraine Mulligan (Labour), Dominic Hannigan (Labour) and Manuel Cortes (General Secretary, TSSA Union), and reacting to the latest comments from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about the Brexit negotiations, the Leader of the Labour Party,…

At the annual Labour Party Conference, Labour Party Health spokesperson and Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly TD, presented Vicky Phelan, Stephen Teap and Lorraine Walsh with Labour Women’s Jo Cox award for Bravery for their work on the Cervical Check scandal.  Labour Women created this award last year in memory of…

Leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin TD, has condemned the call from Tanzanian regional governor, Paul Makonda, for ‘suspected homosexuals’ to be reported to his office in order for them to be arrested. Speaking today, Deputy Howlin said: “Labour condemns any attempt to target or discriminate against a group on the basis of their…