Proceeds of AIB sale should be used for capital investment

Posted on May 10, 2017

This week in the Dáil, we are calling on the sale of shares in AIB to be postponed until the proceeds can be committed to capital investment.

Government plans to sell AIB shares should be put on hold, until the funds raised can be used to invest in vital State infrastructure. #Dáil pic.twitter.com/itDa91Vpe3

— The Labour Party (@labour) May 9, 2017

Government plans to sell AIB shares should be put on hold, until the funds raised can be used to invest in vital State infrastructure.

What we have here is a real opportunity to tackle the infrastructural bottlenecks that are emerging across the country in areas such as transport and housing, to hospitals and schools.

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Decent work is the key to a better society

Posted on May 09, 2017

Over the weekend, Senator Ged Nash, had an opinion piece in the Irish Mirror on why we need to put a halt to precarious conditions in the workplace.

Imagine going to bed on a Sunday night without knowing how many hours you will work that week, or how much money will hit your bank account on Friday to pay the bills and put food on the table for your family.

That’s the sad reality of life for too many working people in Ireland today on so-called ‘if and when’ contracts.

Imagine always having to be on the other end of the phone, so you don’t miss that vital call from your employer, telling you to come into work at short notice.

Read the full entry »

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We need to be more ambitious with capital spending- Brendan Howlin

Posted on May 08, 2017

Last week Brendan Howlin wrote in the Irish Independent about how Ireland needs to be more ambitious with capital spending.

Over the five years up to 2021, the state will spend about €32bn on capital spending – building schools and hospitals, roads and houses, and all sorts of other projects.  These projects create jobs, and they improve our social services at the same time.

Over the last few years, capital spending has been much lower than it should be. But even with lower spending than we need, the last Government was able to fund some ambitious projects.  An end to long-term use of prefabs by 2020, the long awaited construction of the National Childrens’ Hospital, and the linking of the luas lines were some of the highlights.

Read the full entry »

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Will Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil keep their promise on microbeads?

Posted on May 03, 2017

Both ourselves and the Green Party Ireland have published legislation to ban microbeads.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil defeated the Green Party bill five months ago. They both promised to take action themselves. But so far, nothing.

So, Seán Sherlock TD will table our Bill in the Dáil on 4th May - We’ll find out then whether their promises of action meant anything at all.

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A dramatic cut in public sector pensions would leave plans in tatters

Posted on May 02, 2017

Through reports in today's Independent.ie we learned that Fine Gael are trying to be as tough as possible on the public sector - in many ways it is a dog whistle to the right wing voters they are seeking to court - but that is wrong with regard to public sector pensions. The average public sector pension is approximately €20,000. There is not much gold plating involved in that.

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Have a Great May Day

Posted on May 01, 2017

Did you know that today's Bank Holiday was introduced by Labour in 1994? Today is all about celebrating workers.

We know that we need to adapt to the quickly changing world of work. We believe we can chart a path towards a future of work that can make people feel hopeful and optimistic once more.

Get involved - www.labour.ie/get-involved

Happy May Day! Our fight for workers continues - get involved to help us campaign for workers' rights. https://t.co/2ofAWePlW5 pic.twitter.com/uSuW25BPyI

— The Labour Party (@labour) May 1, 2017

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Women are not equal in the workplace. Full stop.

Posted on April 30, 2017

Women are not equal in the workplace full stop. Women in Ireland earn 13.9% less than men - essentially women in full time roles are working for free for just over one month per year. - Cllr. Deirdre Kingston

The Labour Party has always been at the forefront of progressive change and will continue to fight to remove all forms of discrimination. We are calling on all large companies and public sector employers to publish their internal pay gap. The Labour Party has published legislation to bring about wage transparency, by compelling large companies and public sector employers to publish their internal pay gap.

Join our campaign to Close the Gap www.labour.ie/get-involved

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New Executive Board elected

Posted on April 26, 2017

This weekend at #LP17 we elected a new Executive Board of the Labour Party. Well done to all elected.

Chairperson

• Jack O'Connor – Newbridge, Kildare South

National Treasurer

• Gina Doolan - Kilkenny/C Smyth Branch, Carlow-Kilkenny

Executive Board

Panel of Men:

• Patrick Cole - Swords, Dublin Fingal
• Robert Dowds - Clondalkin, Dublin Mid-West
• Adrian Kane - Blackrock/Mahon, Cork South Central

Panel of Women:

• Martina Genockey - Tallaght South, Dublin South West
• Valerie McDermott - Hugh Nevin, Dun Laoghaire
• Catherine Walsh - Wexford Town, Wexford

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Labour must focus on Greening of Ireland

Posted on April 26, 2017

Labour member in Dún Laoghaire, Adam Hurley writes about our Greening of Ireland discussion at our 69th Annual Conference.

On Saturday we held a lively discussion on our "Greening of Ireland" policy document where members, elected representatives and guest speakers outlined the challenges facing the environment and how Labour plans on tackling climate change.

A 'Just Transition' for those working in the fossil fuel industry was viewed as critical to support the livelihoods of workers in rural areas.

As someone from the midlands, a 'Just Transition' is totally necessary for those working in fossil fuels to protect their livelihoods #LP17

— Adam Hurley (@ATMH1994) April 22, 2017

Read the full entry »

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Jack O'Connor elected as new Party Chairperson

Posted on April 26, 2017

At #LP17 - Jack O'Connor was elected as the new Chairperson of the Labour Party.

Jack O’Connor has been General President of SIPTU since 2003, having been re-elected in 2006 for a second term and in 2011 for a third term.

He was also President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) from July 2009 until July 2011 and served previously as Vice President from mid-2007. He has been a member of the Executive Council of Congress since 2000.

Born in 1957, O’Connor is a native of North County Dublin. Employed in the agriculture, construction and local authority sectors, he was a trade union activist before becoming a full-time Branch Secretary of the former Federated Workers’ Union of Ireland in 1980.

Read the full entry »

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