57 Labour Councillors Elected

Posted on May 29, 2019

57 Labour candidates have been elected to serve as local Councillors, in 21 of Ireland's 31 local councils.

Labour's vote share was 9.8% in those areas we contested. Of those elected, 34 were sitting Councillors, 10 had run in the past and 13 were first-time candidates.

Labour had fewer TDs and Senators, and fewer party resources than in 2014. Yet, we increased the Party’s number of elected Councillors, with seat gains in Waterford (+3), Fingal (+2), Wicklow (+2), Cork City (+1), Louth (+1) and Meath (+1). Crucially, we secured a solid vote in a number of areas where we’d hope to win Dáil seats.

Labour fielded 111 candidates in 95 local electoral areas. 41% of our candidates were women, and 42% of our elected Councillors are women.

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Permanent link | Categories: Local Government • #LE19

Co-living Proposals Show Fine Gael is Out of Touch

Posted on May 21, 2019

Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Labour Party (Leaders' Question, Dáil, 21 May 2019)

Minister Murphy recently said that professional people should live like students in so-called co-living accommodation, because that is now normal in London or New York. I would point out to the Minister that those are among the most unaffordable housing markets in the world, where prices and rents are out of control.

London and New York have serious problems because housing is now an investment for speculation. Speculative investment in housing is clearly happening in Ireland too.

The most recent OECD report warns that the Irish economy is vulnerable to recession due to a disorderly Brexit. But it also warns that the presence of foreign investors in the property market is a particular risk.

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Permanent link | Categories: Housing

We Should Embrace a New, Inclusive Definition of Irishness

Posted on May 17, 2019

Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Labour Party

Across Europe, populists and extremists are trying to resurrect failed ideas about segregating people by language, religion or the colour of their skin. It is not enough to dismiss these ideas; we have to actively oppose them to ensure social inclusion in Ireland’s diverse society.

We should rightly celebrate our age-old traditions, and migrants should be taught Irish history, culture and language in our schools. But at the same time, we should welcome new cultural contributions from our diverse population, and not supress difference.

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Permanent link | Categories: Equality • Justice • Social Inclusion • Diversity • Welcome • Migration • Immigation • Immigrants • Emigration • Racism • Xenophobia • Identity • Irish • Irishness