Gilmore demands explanation from Minister

Posted on October 18, 2007

Dominating this morning's Order of Business in the Dáil was Minister Dempsey's claim that he was kept in the dark regarding the Aer Lingus decision to scrap its Shannon - Heathrow route despite the fact that it is now clear officials in his department knew six weeks previously.

Given the importance of the route to the West and Mid West region, it makes no sense at all that the Minister's department would know and the Minister was oblivious. The Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore led the Dáil in demanding an explanation on the matter.

You can read Deputy Jan O Sullivan's statement on the issue here and more on RTE on the Dáil exchange.

Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Transport

Shannon-Heathrow Route

Posted on August 13, 2007

UPDATED: September 12th, 2007

Today the Labour Party Leader Deputy Eamon Gilmore and a number of Labour representatives are in Shannon to meet with local groups on the decision to scrap the Shannon-Heathrow service by Aer Lingus.

Speaking in Shannon Eamon said: "Having spoken to business, commercial, tourism and trade union interests in the region I am more convinced than ever that this is a potentially disastrous decision that will inhibit further investment and jeopardise existing employment in this area.

"The Government must ensure connectivity between Shannon and the key Heathrow hub and the most effective way of achieving this is by ensuring that the Aer Lingus decision is reversed."

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Transport

Day 15 - One-euro bus fares for Dublin

Posted on May 13, 2007

Joan Burton, Pat Rabbitte and Prionsias De Rossa highlighting Labour's plans for one-euro fares for Dublin Bus.

Day 15 and Pat was back in Dublin with Prionsias De Rossa, Roisin Shortall, Joan Burton, Ruairi Quinn, Joe Costello and Dominic Hannigan to highlight our plan for a flat one-euro bus fare within a 25 mile radius of the city centre, including towns such as Ratoath, Ashbourne, Dunboyne, Bray and Leixlip. The plan also includes providing an additional 500 buses for the Dublin Bus fleet. The euro-fare policy also extends to Cork which we announced during our visit this week to Cork.

You can read Pat's statement here and Roisin's here.Find out more about our policy here.

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Permanent link | Categories: Transport • Policy • Elections

On your bikes

Posted on April 23, 2007

Roisin Shortall, Councillor Alex White, Councillor Oisin Quinn, Councillor Aodhan O'Riordain, Councillor Andrew Montague and Senator Derek McDowell.

Over the weekend we launched Pedal Power our 10-point plan for promoting safer cycling.

Despite the many positives aspects of cycling there has been a downward trend in cycling numbers in Ireland for many years. Among the benefits of cycling aside from the obvious health benefits include speeding your way through rush hour traffic leaving cars trailing behind, no nonsense looking for parking spaces, low-cost maintenance and bicycles also produce no pollution.

Cycling is popular in other countries and there is no reason why it cannot be so in Ireland.

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Permanent link | Categories: Transport • Elections • Policy

Getting Dublin Moving

Posted on December 14, 2006

Labour has a a plan to tackle traffic congestion in Dublin. By doubling the bus fleet and introducing a €1 standard charge, we can help end the daily misery of commuters as they struggle to get to work and home to see their families.

Traffic congestion in Dublin has reached a point where it is commonplace to spend three hours a day travelling on a bus getting to and from work, motorists have even spent seven hours trying to get home from the M50.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Transport • Policy