Next week the Minister for Social Protection is to unveil a new initiative aimed at reducing cutting the horrific figure of 440,000 people unemployed or seriously underemployed in this State. It is to be called Pathways to Work. But whereas most people might think that this should involve the creation of tens of thousands of [...]
Press Statement: Case of Louise Bayliss intended to discourage whistleblowing
On January - 24 - 2012
Responding to the case of Louise Bayliss whose contract at the Irish Advocacy Network will not be renewed because of her role in exposing the mistreatment of psychiatric patients in the care of the HSE Joe Higgins TD said: “There has been no delivery yet on whistleblowing legislation. Indeed the Labour Party presented such legislation [...]
Comment: Savage cuts to education for children, yet more bailouts for Anglo Bondholders
On January - 21 - 2012
Yesterday thousands of parents, teachers and pupils staged a passionate demonstration at the Department of Education in Dublin. They were from schools benefiting from the programme known as ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ or DEIS which was designed to counter the many ill effects on children living in areas of high unemployment and poverty. [...]
Comment: Inspirational La Senza workers show way forward
On January - 16 - 2012
Imagine you work with a ‘prestigious’ lingerie retail chain. You have given many years of loyal service for a very average wage. You have gone the extra mile for the company when you were asked. In particular over the Christmas period and particularly during the Sales you worked flat out. And then you came to [...]
Video: Joe Higgins urges Minister to ensure La Senza workers’ entitlements are met
On January - 12 - 2012
I welcome the representatives of the La Senza workers to the Visitors’ Gallery and I am in solidarity with the Vita Cortex workers suffering from similar high-handed disgusting treatment. It is breathtaking in its arrogance and disrespect towards the up to 120 mainly female workers in the La Senza lingerie stores in Dublin and Cork [...]
Press Statement: Socialist Party TD Clare Daly calls for support for La Senza workers in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Cork
On January - 10 - 2012
Socialist Party TD Clare Daly calls for support for La Senza workers in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Cork Responding to the occupation by workers of the La Senza lingerie outlet in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre following the sudden announcement of the firm’s closure of all its Irish operations Socialist Party/United Left Alliance TD Clare [...]
Press Statement: Figures for company collapses in 2011 further testimony of the failure of austerity
On January - 4 - 2012
Government’s projected savings of €185 million from cut in employer redundancy rebate indicates FG/Labour expect over 40,000 further private sector job losses Effective state ownership via NAMA of companies like Vita Cortex should result in production being maintained and jobs saved or created Responding to the research produced by Vision-net which looked at the impact [...]
