Labour's Plan for BRIC Scholarships

Posted on February 10, 2011

Labour's Plan for BRIC Scholarships was announced this morning by Education Spokesperson Ruairi Quinn. Alongside Roisin Shorthall TD, her running mate Cllr John Lyons and Meath West candidate Jenny McHugh, he proposed a postgraduate scholarship program based on the Rhodes and Mitchell Scholarships.

"It will focus, not just on those with academic ability, but on people who have demonstrated that they will be among the next generation of leaders in business, the arts, or politics in their home countries. Our intention is that these scholars will, over a period of time, develop a bond between Ireland and their home countries. It is one example of the shift in mind set that we need to make.

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Labour's Plan for Literacy

Posted on February 09, 2011

At the launch of Labour's Plan for Literacy (left to right) Deputy Roisin Shortall, Cllr Aodhan ORiordain, Cllr Tom Kelleher and Deputy Ruairi Quinn.

"The plans for literacy that we are launching today are a statement of intent that the Labour Party will not allow the situation, where one in three students in disadvantaged schools are illiterate, to continue," said Ruairi Quinn, Labour Party Education Spokesperson at the launch of Labour's Plan For Literacy.

Alongside Róisín Shortall TD, and Labour candidates Cllr Aodhán O'Riordáin and Cllr Tom Kelleher, he showed the Government's failure to equip young people with the basic skills needed to engage fully with society.

“The international OECD skills survey in 2009, which found that almost one in six Irish 15 year olds do not have the literacy skills to cope with further education or the demands of today's workplace, makes tackling literacy problems in our schools even more urgent.

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Labour's Plan for Fair Health Care

Posted on February 08, 2011

Cllr John Gilroy and Deputy Jan O'Sullivan at the launch of Labour's Plan for Fair Health Care.

"Labour in government will introduce Universal Primary Care Insurance for every citizen by 2014," said Jan O'Sullivan TD at the launch of Labour's Plan for Fair Health Care.

"At the same time Labour will end the two tier system in hospital care so that everyone has the same access to treatment through a Universal Hospital Care Insurance system by 2016."

Alongside Cllr John Gilroy, one of Labour's candidates in Cork North Central, and Cllr Pat Cody, one of the party's candidates in Wexford, she presented a bold new vision to rebuild healthcare in Ireland.

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Don't Kill the Patient - surgery not butchery - Labour's Plan for Stability and Growth

Posted on February 03, 2011

"Labour's budget plans will achieve stability while leaving room for jobs and growth," the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said at the launch of our latest policy document Labour's Plan for Stability and Growth.

"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are committed to the budget plans in the IMF/EU deal, which pose an excessive risk to Ireland's chance of recovery. They are comfortable with the Celtic Tory Consensus that embraces austerity, at any price.

Labour is clear on the need to bring down the deficit, but the Irish economy needs surgery, not butchery. What Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil want to do is high risk and could kill the patient."

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A Fair and Effective Penal System

Posted on January 11, 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik and Deputy Pat Rabbitte at the launch of 'A Fair and Effective Penal System'.

"A Fair and Effective Penal System" policy document was launched this afternoon which argues that our current system is costly, ineffective and has led to grossly overcrowded prisons. The document says that those engaged in serious criminal activity, and persons convicted of crimes of violence and offences against the person must be imprisoned to protect society, but outlines a number of alternatives to custodial sentences in appropriate cases.

Leading the launch was our Justice Spokesperson Pat Rabbitte TD and Senator Ivana Bacik.

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Labour document proposals fundamental reforms

Posted on January 06, 2011

Brendan Howlin TD, Eamon Gilmore TD and Pat Rabbitte TD at the launch of Labour's policy doc 'New Government, Better Government' which contains 140 proposals to radically reform how the Government functions, how the Dáil carries out it business and how public services operate.

"The document we are publishing here today sets out the most comprehensive plan to transform, government, politics and the public service, ever published by any political party in the history of the state.

"It contains 140 separate proposals that would radically reform how the government functions, how the Dail carries out is business, and how the public service operates, "the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said today launching 'New Government, Better Government'.

Among the 140 proposals contained in 'New Government, Better Government', include:

• Establish an Independent Fiscal Advisory Council to undertake official macroeconomic projections and monitoring
• Establish an Independent Electoral Commission
• 50 per cent increase in Dail sitting days, longer working week, longer working days, less holidays
• Abolish the Seanad
• Introduce Whistleblowers legislation
• Introduce spending limits for local and Presidential elections

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A Level Playing Field

Posted on September 02, 2010

The Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD at the launch of the Labour sporting policy document 'A Level Playing Field'.

A Level Playing Field - by Mary Upton TD

Ireland is a sports mad country. From Italia 90, the Rugby Grand Slam, the All Ireland's or the thousands of local and county leagues sport occupies a central role in Irish society and in Irish peoples lives. As party spokesperson on sports I have been working on a Sports Policy for several months now together with members from across the party.

Participating in Sport and Physical Exercise has huge personal benefits in terms of personal health and community integration. While we are a sports mad country, the research shows your education, your economic status and your gender play a significant role in determining your level of participation in sport and physical activity.

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Day 24 - the last press conference

Posted on May 22, 2007

Pat speaking at the last press conference of the campaign.

Today saw the last press conference of the campaign due to the moratorium placed on television and radio media in the last 24 hours of the countdown.

Speaking to journalists Pat said: "The people have a choice. For the last 22 days, Labour has run a campaign that has been unrelentingly positive. We have concentrated our efforts on putting forward our vision for the future of our country. A vision I call the Fair Society."

Pat also took the opportunity to dispel a lot of guff being thrown by Fianna Fail as they attempt to spread misinformation on our costed and researched policies.

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Day 22 - Four Days to Ensure a Better Health Service

Posted on May 20, 2007

at our 4 Days to Ensure a Better Health Service launch

Ruairi Quinn and Liz McManus were in the media centre today in election HQ to reveal new information obtained under Freedom of Information confirming that the FF/PD plan to build super private clinics on the grounds of public hospitals will cause serious problems for the public health service.

Ruairi said: "Fianna Fail and the PDs have given on the public health system. They simply don't believe that good quality health services can be delivered by a public health system where medical need, rather than ability to pay, determines the care a patient receives. Instead they want to turn public health into something the sockness industry can profit from.

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Day 21 - Going the extra mile

Posted on May 19, 2007

At the launch of our policy, Giving Youth a Chance

The final weekend of the campaign sees Pat with his Make a Change tour in the West with Jimmy McGarry in Sligo, in Mayo with Harry Barrett, Tuam with Colm Keaveney and Galway City with Michael D.

Back in Dublin in Election HQ Joan Burton and Oisin Quinn launched our Giving Youth a Chance, Labour's plan for youth activities allowing us to have a kick-about in the media centre during the photo-opportunity.

Considering that Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe with one in three people under 25 years old, the corresponding facilities are not in place and this is at the heart of the document.

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