#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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Stopping company directors from jumping ship - Ged Nash

Posted on July 19, 2017

The report from the Company Law Review Group takes over 150 pages to decide: “Yerra, ’twill do”.

In my report to Government two years ago on the sale and liquidation of Clerys, I wrote of the widespread public concern about the way Clerys was closed and how those whose livelihoods depended on the business were treated.

When a company becomes insolvent, then clearly not all creditors can be paid in full. Hence the vital importance of ensuring that there has been fair dealing with the company’s assets and that all property that should be available is used to pay off the company’s debts.

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Gerald Nash

Opposition to Enda Kenny’s visit to Trump chimes with Labour values

Posted on February 08, 2017

In the Irish Times, Brendan Howlin has written about why Labour will continue to oppose Trump.

Five years ago, Fianna Fáil was struggling. They were attracting less support than they had received even in the 2011 election, and they were riven with internal divisions that resulted in Eamon Ó Cuív being sacked from the Fianna Fáil frontbench.

That a party which so spectacularly mismanaged our economy and oversaw the arrival of the troika has once more gain significant public support is encouraging for those of us in the Labour Party who worked to undo that damage, and who believe the the values of social democracy endure.

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Equality • Foreign & European Affairs • Social & Family Affairs • Brendan Howlin •

Brendan Howlin on the Irish Times podcast

Posted on February 02, 2017

 Listen below to the The Irish Times podcast with Brendan Howlin. In the podcast, Brendan chats to Hugh Linehan and Fiach Kelly about #LabourRebuild, our upcoming party conference and the state of social democracy in these changing times. Have a listen below,

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Labour's workers' rights motion is the first defeat for Government

Posted on June 02, 2016

Last night, the Dáil supported the Labour Party’s motion and said #Yes4WorkersRights. This marks the first loss for the new FG/Independent Government and the first time a Government has lost a Private Members' Motion since 1989.

We were delighted to be joined in the Dáil Gallery last night by Clerys' workers, trade unionists and Labour members old and new to see the Dáil back improving working conditions for people by introducing a living wage, tackling zero hour contracts and delivering stronger rights and protections for employees in the workplace.

The passing of our motion has shown New Politics and Labour's constructive opposition at work. We've only just begun - get involved today.

The Labour Leader Brendan Howlin TD introducing Labour's workers' rights motion to the House

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment

When will the Government #EndZeroHours?

Posted on May 31, 2016

Today during Leaders' Questions our Party Leader Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Government plan to legislate for the recommendations of the University of Limerick Report on Zero Hour Contracts. 

Deputy Howlin pointed out to the Taoiseach that there is only 2 paragraphs on workers' rights in the Programme for Governemnt which is miniscule compated to other topics - and that workers' rights were in danger of being the first area seriously damaged by this Governmet.

Is it the Government's intention to legislate the proposals on Zero Hr Contracts that was advanced by @geraldnash ?-Brendan Howlin #Dáil

— The Labour Party (@labour) May 31, 2016

Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment

Day 21 : #GE16 Only Labour will deliver a Living Wage and Full Employment

Posted on February 23, 2016

This morning Party Leader Joan Burton and our candidate in Dublin South-Central visited Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Newmarket Dublin 8 to highlight our jobs plan.

[Read our Standing up for Jobs plan here]

The Labour Party is the party of work and opportunity, the party that stands up for working people. The recovery we’re driving has already created more than 135,000 new jobs and we will shortly have more than two million people at work.

Speaking at the visit of Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Tánaiste Joan Burton complimented the work of Jack and Stephen Teeling on making a real Irish success story.

Companies like @TeelingWhiskey are the way we will get 150,000 more people back to work - @joanburton #GE16 pic.twitter.com/HqWQZhP2mg

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment

Day 4 #GE16 : We're standing up for Rural Ireland

Posted on February 06, 2016

Today we launched our plan for Rural Ireland in Athy with Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister for Rural Affairs Ann Phelan, Senator John Whelan and Cllr Mark Wall. 

[Download our Standing up for Rural Ireland plan here]

We're committed to achieving a whole of Ireland recovery. Our vision is to build thriving hubs of economic activity across every region. Labour’s goal is to provide a job for everyone who wants one by 2018. We believe that every person should have the chance to work, which means investing in and supporting balanced regional development. By building up all of our regions, we can reverse the cycle of emigration and provide sustainable opportunities in rural communities.

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Day 2 #GE16 : A Job for Everyone Who Wants One

Posted on February 04, 2016

Today we launched our Standing up for Jobs Plan  - our plan is to reach full employment by 2018. There will be a job for everyone who wants one. Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister Ged Nash launched the plan in the Boann Distillery in Drogehda. 

Labour is the party of work. Work gives us dignity and purpose, as well as improving the quality of our lives. We are facing into a decade of opportunity, and our plans are based on delivering one simple, but powerful promise – a job for everyone who wants one.

[Download Standing up for Jobs from our policy section.]

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment

Dublin Action Plan for Jobs Launched

Posted on January 26, 2016

Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin launched the Dublin Action Plan for Jobs in Butlers Chocolate in Coolock. The Dublin Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at delivering 10-15% employment growth in the capital over the coming years which will result in 66,000 additional jobs by 2020.

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Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Aodhan ORiordain