Type: Speech
Speech made by Ivana Bacik upon her election as 14th leader of the Labour Party – Change Can’t Wait
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…
Read more »Budget 2022 failed to address the cost of living
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…
Read more »Budget 2022 fails to deliver a new deal
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…
Read more »Opening remarks by Alan Kelly at Labour Party away day
*** 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…
Read more »Time to force land hoarders and speculators to start building housing – implement the Kenny Report
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,…
Read more »Time has come for reproductive health care leave in the workplace
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…
Read more »Speech by Ivana Bacik at Dublin Bay South selection convention
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…
Read more »The social contract should be a given in Ireland, but it is not
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…
Read more »Time for a new social contract focused on Labour policies
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…
Read more »We need a National Autism Empowerment Strategy to correct the mistakes of this state and to embed here the international best practice of others
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…
Read more »EU must be accountable on vaccine failures
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…
Read more »Living with Covid has failed and a new strategy is needed
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…
Read more »Closing a dark chapter is no use unless we also turn over a new leaf
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…
Read more »Confronting the hidden shame of our nation – now the voices of survivors must be listened to
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…
Read more »What is undermining the credibility of government is the maintenance of the unbelievable
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…
Read more »Labour Bill will protect people working from home
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…
Read more »Enormous amounts borrowed in Budget 2021 to change very little
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…
Read more »A two tier health system in a two tier economy – time for a New Social Contract
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…
Read more »We are ready to have this conversation as a country
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…
Read more »Sick pay is required in a health crisis.
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…
Read more »Programme for Government a lost opportunity to transform our country and society
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…
Read more »Guidance needed from Government on bonkers 2 hour rule
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 &…
Read more »Speech by Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly TD, at the James Connolly Commemoration
‘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…
Read more »Govt shouldn’t undervalue and under appreciate the contribution of the arts sector
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…
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