Type: Speech

Thank you, Billie. I honestly never thought I’d be introduced as Leader of the Labour Party. Goes to show anything is possible! I am honoured, excited and I confess quite overwhelmed. I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received from Labour members throughout the country during the past three weeks. I know the…

Speaking on Budget 2022, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly said: The theme of this Budget was Recover, Restore and Renew It’s been more like reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduced living standards due to inflation, Reuse the same old ideas that have failed in the past, Recycle the tax cuts and spending policies of the Ahern…

Response to Budget 2022 – Check against delivery This Budget takes our State into the second century of its existence.  In 2022 we will mark the centenary of the foundation of the Free State. That in itself gives cause for reflection.  Coming out of this phase of the pandemic, the need for a deep assessment…

*** Check against delivery *** Welcome everyone to the Labour Party Parliamentary Party away day here in Athy. I hope you all had a nice sos. This is the first time in nearly a year that we have been able to all gather in the same room and discuss our political ambitions. It is a…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly on the Acquisition of Development Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill 2021 which would implement provisions from the Kenny Report. More than 50 years ago, in the late 1960s, amid concerns about the high cost of housing for home buyers, a situation which has repeated itself several times since,…

Several years ago, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) was approached by several of its members, outlining the negative impact on them due to a lack of statutory leave available for individual women recovering from the tragedy of early miscarriage; and the lack of leave available for those members seeking to access IVF and other…

Check Against Delivery – Embargoed to 8.30pm Comrades and Friends It is an honour to have been selected as your candidate – our candidate – to contest the forthcoming bye-election here in Dublin Bay South. First I would like to thank Kevin Humphreys and Chloe Manahan for proposing and seconding me and for their kind…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD at the Annual James Connolly Commemoration where he addressed the housing crisis, the impact of Covid-19 on young people and the need for a new social contract. “This week marks 105 years since the founder of the Labour Party, James Connolly, was executed by firing squad by…

Ireland becoming no country for young people. Too many people are just about getting by or struggling. Time for a new social contract focused on Labour policies. Marking May Day, International Day of the Worker, Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD spoke to the #NoGoingBack online webinar of the relaunched Labour Trade Unionist section. In…

Notes, Notes were being taken. When a family who are adjusting to the realisation of a challenging diagnosis come into contact with the services of the state, they should assume a culture of partnership, of compassion, of care. But notes were being taken. They fear for their child because of an autism diagnosis. How will…

Contribution by Brendan Howlin TD during Dáil statements on the European Council meeting summit and vaccine supply. “I have noticed the European Commission has, most unusually for that institution, been belligerent and noisy in advance of this week’s Council meeting. The reason for that is obvious. A new wave of Covid infections has erupted and…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly on the Labour Party motion calling for an Aggressive Suppression Strategy for Covid-19 Today, the Labour Party is bringing forward an extremely important motion. I would like the Minister and Government to listen to what we say collectively over the next two hours. This is not about being…

Statement in Seanad Éireann by Labour Party spokesperson for Children, Disability, Equality & Integration, Senator Ivana Bacik,  on the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes   I welcome the publication last week of the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. Its publication and the subsequent…

Statement in Dáil Éireann by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly on the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes Before I start my contribution, I just want to put on the record of the Dáil, that the leaking of this report has caused a lot of hurt and distress and should…

Statement by Brendan Howlin on Judicial Appointments Process in advance of Questions to the Minister for Justice. Thank you Ceann Comhairle and can I say that I very warmly welcome todays exercise in proper political accountability. I think it is one of the core functions of this house to hold the executive to account in…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly on Second Stage Working from Home (Covid-19) Bill 2020  Check Against Delivery  12 November 2020 Thank You Ceann Comhairle, Sometimes Governments, and indeed all politicians, are accused of being out of touch, and behind the times. Sometimes this criticism is merited, and sometimes it is not. But when…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly on Budget 2021. Yesterday was a historic occasion. It was the first time a Budget was announced outside of Leinster House, it was the largest Budget in the history of the State, but it was historic for another reason too. Yesterday, the government missed a golden opportunity to…

Speech by Ged Nash TD, Labour Finance spokesperson on Budget 2021. Check against delivery We have known deadly disease on our island before. In the 1800’s the Great Hunger saw millions emigrate or die, from famine but also diptheria, cholera, fever and smallpox. In the last century, tuberculosis – TB – consumption, destroyed thousands of…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly on the Dying with Dignity Bill at Second Stage , 1st October 2020 As Leader of the Labour Party and our spokesperson on Health, I want to add mine and my Party’s support to this very important piece of legislation. I want to thank Deputy Gino Kenny for…

Speaking on the Labour Party’s Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020 in the Dáil, Labour Business spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said: “What greater action can the State take to protect workers during this pandemic only to ensure there is statutory sick pay for all?  Sick pay is required in a health crisis. It…

Speech by Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly at the sitting of Dáil Éireann in the Convention Centre to elect a new Taoiseach. Today the Labour Party will be opposing both the nominations for Taoiseach that are before this House. The nomination of Deputy McDonald comes before this House without a scintilla of evidence of a…

Taoiseach, our thoughts are with the families of this who lost their lives in the last week and to all the workers out there who are our heroes. This week I want to raise three issues with you: Workers & Consistency of Public Health Advice Opening up Non Covid Health Services & Cancer Screening &…

‘Labour, the Party of Work’ Commemoration of James Connolly Arbour Hill, Sunday 17th May 2020 Check against delivery  As we gather today to remember James Connolly, my thoughts are also with everyone who has lost loved ones during the last few months. We have had to witness tough scenes in the last nine weeks. We…

The COVID-19 crisis has created significant challenges for the arts and cultural sector. Following a survey by the Arts Council of almost 300 arts organisations across the country, it is estimated that organisations will lose €2.9million in income per month of shutdown and the economic impact of the shutdown to date is estimated at over…