Ár bpóstaer Ghaeilge le haghaidh an Reifreann: Bí Cinnte- Vótáil Tá

Posted on May 15, 2012

Ar maidin sheol an Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore ár postéar Gaeilge don Reifreann Chobhsaíochta; Bí Cinnte, Vótáil Tá. In éineacht leis bhí Leas-Stiúrthóir Toghchána Teachta Dála Dominic Hannigan agus Teachtaí Dála Ciara Conway, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin agus Robert Dowds.

Ag an seoladh dúirt an Tánaiste go raibh 'Tá' tabhachtacht chun bheith cinnte faoi todhchaí na tire.

"Níl sé soiléir céard iad na hiarmhairtí a bheadh ann don tír má tá Vóta in aghaidh an Chonradh seo. Níl sé soiléir an mbeidh maoiniú éigeandála ar fáil dúinn má ta sé ag teastáil agus níl sé soiléir an mbeadh muinín ag infheistóirí in Éireann. Mar sin, bí cinnte faoi todhchaí na tire agus vótáil 'Tá' ar an 31ú Bealtaine."

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The Tánaiste debates the Stability Treaty on TWIP

Posted on May 15, 2012

If you missed Sunday evening's The Week in Politics on RTE we have a clip of the debate on the Stability Treaty with the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore which you can watch from the accompanying video. You can also watch the entire programme from the RTE Player.

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Labour Women launch Stability Treaty Yes campaign

Posted on May 14, 2012

This morning Labour Women launched their Stability Treaty Yes campaign attended by the Labour Deputy Leader Joan Burton, MEPs Emer Costello, Phil Prendergast and Nessa Childers as well as other members of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Minister Burton spoke of how there is a 'big advantage' of staying the course in Europe.

"Ireland is not alone in its current troubles. Bank debts and unemployment haunt many European economies. There is a lot more to be done to help beleaguered countries. I believe we are far better off making the case along with like-minded Governments inside the European tent than being a lone voice outside.

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Stability Treaty site live & an update for Dep Dominic Hannigan

Posted on May 11, 2012

Our Stability Treaty website is now live. On it you can find out more details about the Treaty, what events are planned around campaigning and a 'don't know, ask Labour' section where you can email in any queries you have regarding the treaty.

We also talked to our deputy Director of Elections Dominic Hannigan TD about how the campaign is going. In the video Deputy Hannigan explains how across the country our TDs, MEPS, Cllrs and party members have been wearing out the shoe leather knocking on doors talking to voters, putting up posters and distributing thousands of leaflets.

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EU education council meeting report

Posted on May 11, 2012

Minister Ruairi Quinn and Kaisa Penny from the PES

Ruairi Quinn is spending two days in Brussels this week, attending meetings of the Presidency of the PES (Party of European Socialists) and the EU Education Council.

The PES is Labour's family in Europe - bringing together socialist and social democratic parties from across the EU. The Presidency of the PES is chaired by Ruairi.

One of the major items for discussion at the PES Presidency was the start of the PES Youth Guarantee campaign - a campaign that follows on from the agreement of this report which explored solutions to youth unemployment.

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Leaders' Questions May 10 2012

Posted on May 10, 2012

Leaders' Questions from this morning is now live on You Tube, the topics discussed this morning were the Stability Treaty and patients on trolleys.

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You decide your future - May 31st

Posted on May 10, 2012

On May 31st, you will decide whether or not Ireland can pass the Stability Treaty.

This Treaty is to deal with the crisis of confidence in the European and Irish economies. We may not have as many euros as before, but what we do have is vital. Through 3 fiscal rules to help balance our budgets and definite access to permanent funding of €700bn in Europe, this Treaty will help stabilise the euro and increase investor and consumer confidence in Europe and Ireland's recovery.

The Treaty is a technical, legal document, but basically it sets out:

• 3 'housekeeping rules' to manage taxpayers' money better
• Definite access to permanent funds, providing a safety net/insurance policy
• Better management of the euro to stabilise the currency we rely on

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Marking Europe Day

Posted on May 09, 2012

Deputy Dominic Hannigan and pals marking Europe Day in the Dáil

To mark Europe Day, as Chairperson of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, I welcomed over sixty Transition Year students from Meath to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Upon their arrival, they were photographed on the steps of Leinster House waving national flags from across the European Union.

After this, we had an interesting discussion about Ireland and the European Union, the Dáil and Seanad, and the issues that affect young people in Ireland today. The students were very interested in the various issues and made their views known.

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Boots on the ground campaigning for the Stability Treaty

Posted on May 09, 2012

The Party Leader Eamon Gilmore and Deputy John Lyons canvassing in Ballymun

Up and down the country Labour members and reps have been knocking on doors talking to people about why they should vote Yes in the forthcoming Stability Treaty referendum. Over the last while Deputy John Lyons has been wearing out the shoe leather in Ballymun where the reception on the doors has been very positive.

Deputy Lyons said: "People have been very engaged about the Stability Treaty and asking lots of questions. They realise the importance of the Treaty for Ireland's future and how it won't be business as usual for Ireland if the Treaty isn't passed."

Over the weekend Deputy Michael McCarthy visited the Kinsale Seven annual rugby event with MEP Phil Prendergast and Cllr Gearoid Buckley where he officially launched his Stability Treaty campaign.

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Voting Yes for Stability Treaty is a vote for recovery

Posted on May 08, 2012

The Labour Leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Minister Joan Burton and Deputy Dominic Hannigan at the launch of our Stability Treaty campaign

Today we officially launched our Stability Treaty campaign. Speaking at the launch the Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore said, "Labour is calling for a YES vote in the referendum, because we believe that the Treaty is necessary to stabilise the Euro and underpin investor confidence in Ireland. A YES vote provides certainty on how we can continue to fund the State. We believe it provides a platform for stability at home and in Europe, on which we can build economic recovery".

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