Low income families deserve Christmas clarity in #budget17

Posted on September 28, 2016

Labour Party leader and Wexford TD, Brendan Howlin, has called on the Government to provide clarity on whether or not the Christmas Bonus will be paid this year. The payment was partially restored over the last two years, with a 75% Christmas Bonus paid to all social welfare recipients last year. However in his response to Deputy Howlin in the Dáil today, the Taoiseach wouldn't confirm if the payment would go ahead this year.

Low income families deserve Christmas clarity - @BrendanHowlin #Dáil https://t.co/kzFGQGjoMW pic.twitter.com/mHmIas6Mxp

— The Labour Party (@labour) September 28, 2016

Permanent link | Categories: Leaders Questions

Will #Budget17 see a focus on Early Years Education?

Posted on September 27, 2016

Today during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, our Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs Jan O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach if#Budget17 will see a focus on Early Years Education. Deputy O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach what options are on the table in regard to Early Years Education and if those working in the sector can expect to see any increases in their pay. 

Permanent link | Categories: Children • Jan OSullivan • Leaders Questions

Our job is a simple one – to rebuild the Labour Party.

Posted on September 26, 2016

Party Leader Brendan Howlin speaking at our #LabourRebuild think in. Since the election 400 new members have joined the party with hundreds more signing up to Labour Youth in college campuses around the country. Our rebuild won't be easy but it will be done through hard work and principled and progressive campaigns and policies.

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Howlin to launch bill to halt pregnancy advice ‘lies’-Ellen Coyne (The Times Ireland)

Posted on September 16, 2016

Following on from her investigation into rogue crisis pregnancy agencies Ellen Coyne has written in today's The Times Ireland on legislation Brendan Howlin is launching at Labour Women Conference to tackle these rogue crisis pregnancy agencies.

Brendan Howlin is set to put forward legislation that would regulate crisis pregnancy agencies and force them to provide women with accurate information.

The Labour leader will announce his plan at the Labour women’s conference tomorrow in response to a report by The Times that exposed a clinic, run by a Catholic group, that was claiming abortions could cause breast cancer and turn women into child abusers.

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We all knew #AppleTax was coming, so why did Government not have answers ready?

Posted on September 04, 2016

In today's Mail on Sunday our Party Leader Brendan Howlin has a piece on his reaction to the Government not being prepeared for Apple Tax and why we need to close more tax loopholes. 

Kids went back to school this week. But not by accident.

Over the last few weeks, parents have been buying schoolbags and uniforms, and bracing themselves for an emotional day if they have kids starting school for the first time. Teachers have been getting ideas and lesson plans ready to start inspiring the next generation. Parents, teachers and kids themselves have been getting ready.

For reasons I can’t understand, our Government wasn’t able to get itself ready for an even bigger day - the day that the EU decided Apple owed us €19bn.

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Labour at Electric Picnic

Posted on September 04, 2016

This weekend, Alan Kelly TD and Ivana Bacik spoke at the Newstalk Lounge at Electric Picnic. You can watch their contributions below

Alan participated in Have I Got Newstalk for You - looking over on the top news stories from the past few months.

Ivana outlined Labour's stall on why we need to #repealthe8th - watch what she had to say below :

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Labour Women to host bi-annual conference

Posted on September 02, 2016

The National Bi-Annual Conference of Labour Women will be held on Saturday 17th September 2016 in the Oak Room of the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 from 11am until 5pm. From 11am-1pm we will have a panel discussion on “A Feminist Republic” with guest speakers, followed by an address by the Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD. We will also be awarding the Rosie Hackett Award to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the lives of women in Ireland. We will then break for a light lunch and the AGM will take place during the afternoon session from 2pm-5pm.

Here is some info you will need if you plan on attending the conference

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Inaugural Richard O'Carroll Empowerment Bursary awarded to Eimear Mowlds

Posted on August 10, 2016

The winner of the inaugural Labour Party Richard O'Carroll Empowerment Bursary has been awarded to Eimear Mowlds, a third year Deaf Studies student at Trinity College Dublin.

Eimear is from Drimnagh, and attended the Presentation Secondary School in Warrenmount, Dublin 8, before starting her third level studies.

The bursary was launched by the Labour Party as part of our 1916 Rising Centenary Commemorations, to remember the life and legacy of Cllr Richard O'Carroll, a Labour Party founder and trade unionist.

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Unlocking the Door - Labour's Housing Plan

Posted on July 18, 2016

Earlier today our Housing and Planning Spokesperson, Jan O'Sullivan TD launched our Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016 with Willie Penrose TD and Cllr Duncan Smith.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend various pieces of legislation in order to make improvements to the current serious shortage in supply of housing for sale or for rent at affordable prices, and to ensure a stable and functioning housing market.

This Bill is set in the context of looking at the constitutional balance between the rights of private property and the principle of social justice and the common good. And while it represents a strong and comprehensive legislative response to the issues, it has to be acknowledged that legislation alone, cannot fix everything.

Permanent link | Categories: Environment • Jan OSullivan • Housing

Howlin questions Tánaiste on Section 38 agencies' board and corporate governance compliance

Posted on July 12, 2016

Leaders' Questions today saw the Labour Leader Brendan Howlin seek answers on whether all section 38 agencies are in full compliance with HSE requirements on corporate governance.

Deputy Howlin asked:

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