Frankfurt’s way? I don’t think so! - writes Deputy Penrose in today's Irish Times

Posted on April 04, 2016

Deputy Willie Penrose has written in today's letters page in the Irish Times saying 'claims made by our political opponents at face value, rather than looking at what we actually achieved' - you can see what he said below.  

Sir, – The grasp of the facts displayed by The Irish Times in its editorial “What now for the Labour Party” is sadly lacking (April 1st).

For instance, the claim made that Labour promised to “burn the bondholders” does not stand up to scrutiny. It never happened. The Labour Party made no such commitment.

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Bookending our offer to the people

Posted on March 10, 2016

Today, the 32nd Dail is meeting for the first time.

Speaking in the chamber for the first time since the General Election, I said that while The Labour Party had sought a mandate to continue in government with Fine Gael to rebuild our economy and our society, we accepted that that proposal had not won the support of the Irish people. Nevertheless, we are proud of our work over the last five years. We are proud of how we pulled the country back from the brink, got people working, and delivered a growing economy.

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Day 22 : #GE16 Only Labour will Provide Fair and Balanced Government

Posted on February 24, 2016

At our final press conference before the General Election, Party Leader Joan Burton, Ministers Brendan Howlin and Alex White outlined our commitment to providing a fair and balanced government.

[Read our manifesto for Standing Up For Ireland's Future]

Tánaiste Joan Burton said: “Labour is the only party offering this progressive policy choice and the only party willing and able to deliver it in Government. I want to see us deliver on this programme by returning the current Government.

Our track record is one of managing the recovery responsibly & fairly. @Labour will deliver a fair government #GE16 pic.twitter.com/ksDuVppmbK

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Day 21 : #GE16 Only Labour will deliver a Living Wage and Full Employment

Posted on February 23, 2016

This morning Party Leader Joan Burton and our candidate in Dublin South-Central visited Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Newmarket Dublin 8 to highlight our jobs plan.

[Read our Standing up for Jobs plan here]

The Labour Party is the party of work and opportunity, the party that stands up for working people. The recovery we’re driving has already created more than 135,000 new jobs and we will shortly have more than two million people at work.

Speaking at the visit of Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Tánaiste Joan Burton complimented the work of Jack and Stephen Teeling on making a real Irish success story.

Companies like @TeelingWhiskey are the way we will get 150,000 more people back to work - @joanburton #GE16 pic.twitter.com/HqWQZhP2mg

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Hotpress Endorses Labour Party in #GE16

Posted on February 22, 2016

In the most recent edition of Hotpress Magazine, Niall Stokes has endorsed Labour's offering in #GE16.

[Read The Message - Niall Stokes on the election's burning issues]

"In the immediate future we could forget about Repealing the 8th. We would also be faced with complete stasis on one of the great scandals of modern Irish life: the control exerted by religious vested interests over Irish schools, an issue on which neither of the dominant political parties will take any risks whatsoever. We could also look forward to a wave of privatisation; the ongoing, abysmal treatment of refugees; further cuts in social welfare – and so on. 

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Day 20 #GE16 Labour is Standing up for Equal Access to Education

Posted on February 22, 2016

This morning we launched our plan for equal access to education with Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister Kevin Humphreys in Shellybanks Educate Together in Dublin 4

For the Labour Party, equality is the keystone of what we believe. To ensure every child has equality of opportunity, to ensure every child has the chance to achieve in life, equal access to school is vital.

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Day 19 #GE16 Labour’s proposals to increase take-home pay for low and middle income workers.

Posted on February 21, 2016

This afternoon we launched our plan to increase your take home pay for low and middle income earners with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister Aodhan . We want to make sure work pays. That is why we want to abolish the Universal Social Charge for everyone earning under €72,000. This change will increase an average retail workers yearly take home pay by over €1,000 and a teachers by over €1,700.

We have a proven track record of making sure work pays. We have increased the minimum wage by 20% since 2011 – which means that someone who works on the minimum wage is €3,000 a year better off because of Labour’s influence in government.We have also taken 700,000 people out of the Universal Social Charge.

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Day 18 : #GE16 We're Investing in the Services that Families and Communities Need

Posted on February 20, 2016

Today we launched our Standing up for Public Services plan in our Campaign HQ with Minister Brendan Howlin and Minister Ged Nash. 

We plan that for every €1 in tax cuts, we will spend €3 on schools, childcare, and healthcare. These are the vital local services that all families and communities need. Families endured a lot during the economic downturn and deep recession. Now that we have a recovery, it is time to make sure it reaches the kitchen table.

[Read our Plan for investing in the services that families and communities need]

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Day 17 : #GE16 Equality is the Keystone of What we Believe

Posted on February 19, 2016

Today with launched our plan for a more modern, equal Ireland with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister Jan O'Sullivan and former Deputy Leader of our party, Liz McManus.

[Read our Plan for a more modern, equal Ireland here]

If re-elected to Govenment, we will tackle gender pay issues by ensuring large companies and public sector employers make public the details their own internal pay gaps in order to stimulate stronger action towards pay equality.

Highlighting the gender pay gap with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Jan O Sullivan and Liz McManus #GE16

A photo posted by Labour Party (@labourparty) on Feb 19, 2016 at 2:47am PST

 Minister Jan O'Sullivan MC'd the event and spoke about the Labour Party always pushing equality forward in Ireland.

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Day 16 : #GE16 Only Labour in Government can Repeal the 8th

Posted on February 18, 2016

Today we launched our  plan to hold a referendum to repeal the 8 ^th Amendment. Minister for Communications, Alex White, Minister for Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, and Senator Ivana Bacik outlined how the party would deliver a referendum, and campaign strongly to repeal the 8 ^th amendment, if returned to Government.

Speaking at the launch in Labour’s Campaign HQ this afternoon, Minister for Communications, Alex White, said: “It’s high time that this generation was given the right to choose – through a referendum – whether the 8 ^th amendment should remain in our Constitution.

Only @labour in Government can deliver a referendum to #repealthe8th #GE16 pic.twitter.com/96PY4gQ5RO

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