Blog Archive
Labour delivers on the Personal Insolvency Bill
Posted on January 28, 2012
Protecting distressed mortgage-holders and working to make sure that families can remain in their homes is a priority for Labour and this week Labour has delivered on that with the Personal Insolvency Bill.
The Personal Insolvency Bill is a significant piece of legislation which will radically reform Ireland's bankruptcy laws giving many householders, including those in serious mortgage arrears, some level of hope.
It proposes non-judicial debt settlement procedures, a Debt Settlement Process and Personal Insolvency Arrangement, allowing home owners to enter into an arrangement with banks in order to write down mortgage debt on a case by case basis.
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Leaders' Questions - January 26th
Posted on January 26, 2012
Today Leaders' Questions in the Dáil focused on a number of issues including the Personal Insolvency Bill which will provide some comfort for people who have fallen into mortgage arrears and who have been in danger of losing their homes; there was also debate about the Water Services Bill and labour activation. You can watch the exchange in the accompanying video and also read the full debate on the Oireachtas website.
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South Tipperary Labour Youth
Posted on January 24, 2012
Yesterday saw the first meeting of the newly formed South Tipperary Labour Youth branch in Carrick-on-Suir.
Despite the cold, there was a good turnout with support being offered by some of the local public representatives including the party's youngest Councillor Sarah Dunne, of Carrick-on-Suir Town Council.
The meeting was housed in Senator Denis Landy's office, who himself has been a long time supporter of Labour Youth.
An interim committee was elected to help establish the branch and it is hoped that an AGM can be held next month to formally elect a new committee.
A lot of great ideas were discussed during the meeting about how to recruit new members and there was a particular interest in getting involved in Labour Youth's National 'Votes @ 16' campaign.
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Leaders' Questions - January 19th 2012
Posted on January 19, 2012
This morning the Labour Leader and An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore took Leaders' Questions in the Dáil. First, the Tanaiste spoke about the headway being made by the Govt in addressing the difficulties that many people face in paying their mortgages.
He went on to outline the progress being made by the Govt in terms of economic recovery, calling on opposition parties to acknowledge that progress and to put forward realistic and workable solutions to our economic difficulties.
The Tánaiste also assured the Dail that the Govt would resist any pressure to change our corporate tax rate and explained why a financial transaction tax could pose difficulties for Ireland.
If you're on Twitter why not follow @labour and you can add Labour on Facebook from here.
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Leaders' Questions, January 12th 2012
Posted on January 12, 2012
Leaders' Questions in the Dáil today was taken by Minister Ruairi Quinn and the issues discussed were unemployment, Ulsterbank job losses and DEIS. You can watch the exchange back on the accompanying video.
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Labour committed to develop strategies to eliminate educational disadvantage
Posted on January 12, 2012
Last night and today the Dáil debated budget provisions for disadvantaged schools where the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn spoke of his personal commitment to continue working to develop strategies that strive to eliminate educational disadvantage from our society.
Minister Quinn said: "I want to place on the record my admiration and appreciation of the commitment, dedication and affection that is involved in alleviating educational disadvantage within our society. The work of teachers, principals, staff, parents and wider school communities in ensuring the continuing success of the DEIS scheme, and the education of so many children from disadvantaged homes and communities. This work allows children to experience a genuine equality of opportunity that was denied to too many children in this country for too many years."
Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Education • Finance • JohnLyons • RuairiQuinn • MichaelMcNamara • MichaelMcCarthy
Minister Rabbitte and the Wheel to develop digital TV outreach programme
Posted on January 10, 2012
The Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte TD has announced an agreement with the Wheel, a national voluntary organisation, to operate a community outreach digital switchover programme which will provide additional assistance and advice at community level to those who may find the move to digital TV difficult.
The programme aims to ensure that everybody is made aware of the switchover and that no TV viewers are left without a TV service when the switchover from analogue to digital takes place on October 24th.
Minister Rabbitte said he is delighted to be working with the Wheel and that it is encouraging to see the level of support offered by the organisations during the switchover period.
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Tribute to Mary Raftery
Posted on January 10, 2012
Following the sad and untimely passing today of Mary Raftery Senator Susan O'Keeffe has shared a few words about Mary who will be remembered as one of Ireland's most renowned journalist and broadcaster.
Mary Raftery was a warm, funny and generous woman who believed in getting on with the job. As a journalist, she drove herself hard in the pursuit of the story because she believed that getting to the truth mattered. But her determination never replaced her humanity. She always knew that while the bigger picture mattered, real people who had suffered deserved her sensitivity and care.
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Wishing you and yours the best for 2012
Posted on January 06, 2012
After a tough 2011, many people are looking forward to a fresh start. Last year against a backdrop of economic mismanagement and rising unemployment, the people of Ireland voted for change, resulting in the Labour Party entering a coalition government with Fine Gael. Forming this government, we knew that difficult decisions would have to be made in order to regain Ireland's economic sovereignty. Drawing on our ethos of fairness and equality, the Labour Party has sought to protect those most vulnerable at every opportunity.
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Junior Minister appointments announced
Posted on December 20, 2011
Speaking after her appointment today as Super Junior Minister Jan O'Sullivan said her priorities in the post are addressing homelessness and alleviating the stresses of families who are struggling to meet their mortgages.
Minister Jan O'Sullivan was appointed from her previous position of Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Trade and Employment to Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Planning. Minister O'Sullivan's appointment means she will now be a member of Cabinet.
"The Government has made significant progress in getting the country back on the road to economic recovery. I look forward to working with my Cabinet colleagues in continuing that work," Minister O'Sullivan said.
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