#OurFuture - Labour's Alternative budget

Posted on October 05, 2017

We have made clear that we don't believe there is enough space for any tax cuts in this Budget. Instead, we have argued for the construction of 5,000 public homes, and the funding of Sláintecare (a new national strategy to build our public healthcare system) as the central points of our proposals.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are having a phoney war over tax cuts that will amount to between €2 and €4 per week for middle-income families. We have said that cutting school costs, reducing college fees by €1,000 next year, eliminating hospital inpatient charges, and increasing the public subsidy of childcare would save families a lot more

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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

Day 8 : #GE16 We'll introduce affordable and high-quality childcare

Posted on February 10, 2016

Today we launched our plans for affordable and high quality childcare with Tanaiste Joan Burton, Deputy Ciara Conway and Cllr Mark Wall. Our plan whic h includes capping the cost of childcare for parents to €2 per hour by 2021 and an increase in paternity leave by three months. 

[You can read our plan here]

As a father our candidate in Kildare South, Mark Wall knows the importance of good childcare provision "Today we are also proposing that parental leave is extended by 3 months, to be shared by both parents. We recognise that fathers should have the opportunity to bond with their new-born children – it’s why we introduced two weeks of paternity leave in the last Budget, which will happen in September."

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Permanent link | Categories: Children • Social & Family Affairs

Labour is Standing up for Working Families

Posted on January 17, 2016

Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party, Joan Burton together with Minister for Communications Alex White, John Lyons TD and Cllr Pamela Kearns launched our ‘Standing Up For Working Families’ campaign this afternoon.

The campaign is comprised of a series of meetings which will take place across the country over the next two weeks to highlight the ways Labour has and will continue to stand up for working families. 

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Permanent link | Categories: Children • Finance • Social & Family Affairs

Labour Women launch Childcare Report

Posted on October 07, 2015

Labour Women have launched their Let’s Talk About Childcare Report which was commissioned by An Tánaiste and Labour Party Leader Joan Burton to explore issues surrounding childcare in Ireland and to make recommendations that will feed into Labour’s General Election manifesto. 

The report was presented to the Party Leader by Deputy Joanna Tuffy, Deputy Ciara Conway, Deputy Arthur Spring and Deputy Michael McCarthy along with representatives of Labour Women.

[Download Let's Talk about Childcare' working group report from our policy section.]

The working group was established in July 2015 to look at at progressive ways to improve childcare in Ireland. An online campaign was carried out using videos, online and offline questionnaires as well as public meetings. 

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Permanent link | Categories: Children

Children should be seen and heard - Vote Yes for children

Posted on October 23, 2012

Today we launched our video for the Labour campaign calling for a Yes vote in the forthcoming Children's Referendum on Saturday on November 10th.

Speaking at the launch, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said: "This referendum gives us the opportunity to show children that we treat all children equally and that we cherish children and childhood".

The video starred six year old Ella Hendron Kilcommons, who said the referendum gives: "Big people the opportunity to vote for little people who do not have a voice".

The referendum will strengthen the protection of children in the Constitution, putting their safety and welfare at the centre of decision making.

Do take the time to check the video out.

Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Children

Leaders' Questions, September 20th 2012

Posted on September 20, 2012

This morning's Leaders' Questions is now on You Tube and you can watch the proceedings from the accompanying video. Among the issues debated were health, child poverty and property tax.

Permanent link | Categories: Children • Health

The Programme for Government delivering for Children - Conway

Posted on April 14, 2012

At this years Labour Conference, Deputy Ciara Conway is Chairing a workshop on how the programme for Government can deliver for children. Here she speaks ahead of the workshop.

Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Children • Conference

Protection of children is a priority

Posted on February 22, 2011

The Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD at the launch of Labour's Manifesto for Children.

"If this election is about anything, it is about families, about protecting children and about securing a better future for our young people," Senator Alex White told this morning's press conference launching Labour's Manifesto for Children (you can download the document at the link).

"We in Labour believe that children should have the best possible start in a world that has become vastly more uncertain ad precarious. But this belief is not just a pious aspiration. We are today backing it up with a specific set of proposals in a childrens' manifesto that we believe will deliver genuine change for children and for families."

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Children cannot be the forgotten constituency in this election

Posted on February 21, 2011

Eamon Gilmore at the launch of Labour's Manifesto for Children

The Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore speaking at St. Nicholas of Myra Parish Centre, Carman's Hall, Dublin 8

This is a once in a generation election. The choice that we, all of us, together, make on Friday, will shape our country for decades to come.

The Government that is elected on Friday, has immediate and urgent challenges to face. But the decisions it takes will affect how it is to grow up, and raise a family, and grow old in Ireland, years from now.

The choice that this generation makes on Friday, will truly shape the lives of the next generation.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Children