Labour Party ‘determined' to give Carlow voters a ‘real choice' in next elections
Up until last year, Labour had two councillors sat on Carlow County Council. But in February of 2024, longstanding Labour councillor, Will Paton, left the party in a shock move as he turned Independent. That left Cllr Willie Quinn as the last remaining Labour councillor in Co Carlow.
However Cllr Quinn was seemingly unfazed by Will Paton's departure as he told the Irish Independent in February of 2024, 'I might be the lone ranger in the Carlow council chamber, but I'm also a good sniper'.
Cllr Quinn's confidence was not unfounded as he was re-elected to Carlow County Council as Labour's only councillor in the county during the local elections of June 2024.
Now the Labour Party seem to be focusing their attention on growing the party from a party of one in Carlow to a party of many.
Although the next local and general elections won't be for a number of years, the Labour Party seem to be implementing the tactic of 'the early bird always gets the worm'.
During a meeting of Labour Party members that took place in the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow Town, members spoke of their plans for the party's future.
Labour Party TD for Kildare South and spokesperson on social protection Deputy Mark Wall responded to many queries on housing from party members at the meeting.
'We are hearing loud and clear from communities across Carlow that housing is an emergency,' said Deputy Wall. 'Labour is committed to fighting for better investment in public housing and delivering real change for working people.'
Meanwhile, Carlow's only Labour Councillor, Willie Quinn, promised members that he will continue the 'proud Labour tradition' in Carlow.
"In my nearly 20 years in Carlow County Council I have been a voice for working families and rural communities, and I look forward to continuing that proud Labour tradition and assisting the people of Carlow in the years ahead.'
Next to speak was Carlow-Kilkenny constituency chair of the Labour Party and Kilkenny County Councillor Seán Ó'hArgáin.
Cllr ÓhArgáin returned to politics when he was elected to Kilkenny County Council during the June 2024 local elections. He also hoped to win a seat for Labour as a TD in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency during the general elections in November of 2024 but was unsuccessful.
"The Labour Party is determined to give people in Carlow a real choice at the next elections,' said Cllr Ó'hArgáin as he addressed his fellow party members.
"We want to address the cost of living impact that families are experiencing, investment in public housing, timely access to healthcare and education for all.'
The meeting ended with a call for more people to get involved with the Labour Party in Carlow that want build a fairer and more equal Ireland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
13 minutes ago
- Irish Times
UK's Labour government facing backbench revolt over plan to repeal Troubles Legacy Act
A significant rebellion is brewing in the UK's Labour Party over plans by Keir Starmer 's government to repeal the Legacy Act that gave immunity to British soldiers and others for acts committed during the Troubles. The UK's veterans minister, Alistair Carns, is reported to be threatening to resign if the UK government goes ahead and strips British soldiers of their immunity. Backbenchers in Labour seats in working-class areas where lots of former soldiers live – Labour's so-called Red Wall in England's midlands and north – are also understood to be putting pressure on the UK government to change tack. Labour MPs who spoke to The Irish Times on Tuesday night speculated the UK government could pull the Bill to head off yet another backbench rebellion, or else water it down to assuage rebels while appearing to avoid another humiliating U-turn. Backbench rebellions recently forced Downing Street to back down on welfare cuts. READ MORE It is understood that Morgan McSweeney, the Corkman who is UK prime minister's chief of staff, has become personally involved in the issue. SDLP MP Colum Eastwood is believed to be preparing to challenge Mr Starmer on the issue in the House of Commons on Wednesday, during prime minister's questions. In a story first reported by the Times newspaper in London on Tuesday, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marine, is believed to have threatened to resign in talks with Hilary Benn , the Northern Ireland Secretary who is overseeing legislation to repeal the Legacy Act. Labour MPs who spoke to The Irish Times acknowledged that a serious problem was brewing for Mr Starmer's government over the issue. 'It's all f**ked,' said one. Mr Benn is due to publish legislation to repeal the Legacy Act in coming weeks. MPs debated the issue in Westminster Hall on Monday after a petition was filed with 175,000 signatures calling on the government not to repeal the Act. Irish-linked MPs and political observers were said to be despondent after the debate, at which Mr Carns was present. If the UK government chooses not to face down the rebels and if it pulls or waters down its plans – which were a manifesto commitment – it will also complicate relations with the Irish Government, which had long opposed the immunity plan. Earlier on Tuesday Downing Street told Westminster reporters the UK government was in 'lockstep' on the issue. The Irish Times has sought a more detailed response from Mr Starmer's office.
The Irish Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
British children recruited by Russia and Iran to spy against their own country and research potential targets
BRITISH children are being recruited by Russia and Iran to spy against their own country, it was revealed today. The kid spooks are said to be carrying out research and conducting reconnaissance on potential targets after being recruited online by the two hostile states. 2 British children recruited by to spy against their own country and research potential targets Credit: Getty 2 The schoolchildren are spying on the behalf of hostile states such as Russia Credit: Reuters Several schoolchildren, in their mid-teens, have been arrested for allegedly gathering intelligence to be used against the UK, it emerged. And more children of the same age are being investigated for clandestine activities on behalf of the hostile states. They are being recruited through online forums and then lured into working for anonymous Russian and Iranian spymasters offering financial inducements. The UK's Counter Terrorism Policing Senior Coordinator Vicki Evans said: 'Children and young people are vulnerable to this type of hostile activity,' adding; "It is a huge concern for us.' READ MORE UK NEWS Met deputy assistant commissioner Ms Evans urged parents and carers to be 'vigilant and careful.' Ms Evans revealed how the threat from hostile states to the UK is now five times greater than at the time of Russia's 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury. The threat from Russia, China and Iran accounts for more than a fifth of the counter terror policing network's caseload in the UK, she said. Criminals are increasingly being used by hostile states to spy against Britain by proxy after being recruited online and promised cash which rarely materialises. Most read in The Sun Ms Evans said the use of low level criminals was 'an increasing theme' on how hostile states are working, adding the proxies and assets were 'quite disposable' once they had served their use. The C-T policing boss said international frictions and the two wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were fuelling aggressive intelligence operations in the UK and elsewhere. Is THIS the US missile that will force Putin to make peace? JASSM cruise missile could obliterate 30 key Russian bases They include arson attacks, assassinations plots and threats to journalists. Five men are facing long sentences over an arson attack on an East London warehouse storing satellite equipment for Ukraine which was ordered by the Russian Wagner group. And Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's SO15 counter-terrorism command, said he was surprised 'by the breadth and complexity of these operations…' Cdr Murphy added: 'We are increasingly seeing threats to life and our way of life.' He urged any criminals approached by spymasters online to get in touch with police.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Disabled children suffered higher rates of sexual abuse, Dáil hears during debate on historical abuse
Children with disabilities experienced sexual abuse at a much higher rate than children without a disability, the Dáil heard as it debated historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan said the scoping inquiry leading to the newly established Commission of Investigation revealed the records of religious orders showed 'some 528 allegations of historical child sexual abuse across 17 special schools in respect of 190 alleged abusers'. The initial scoping inquiry was told of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. It was told it involved 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools countrywide between 1927 to 2013. The Minister of State said 'many families entrusted the care of their children into these communities' and 'this is unlikely to be the full extent of the historical abuse in special schools'. READ MORE It was 'truly appalling that the additional vulnerabilities of children in special schools could be so exploited and there has to be accountability', Mr Moynihan said. He was speaking during a debate on the motion to approve the draft order on the Commission of Investigation on the handling of historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. [ Government will 'pursue all levers' to make religious orders pay redress to victims of school sex abuse Opens in new window ] Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley said he had lost many friends who had been abused and it took more than 20 years to find out what happened. 'I lost two friends in primary school where the abuse started and I wasn't aware of it.' He said 'people ran away from school, came back, qualified as solicitors and everything, and unfortunately ended their lives'. He said some of the people who are responsible 'are still alive, some of the principals and vice-principals, Christian Brothers and lay teachers'. Labour's Ciarán Ahern said the Government and other institutions of power 'have excelled in the past at covering up the reality of child sexual abuse'. 'We need only look at the Carrigan report in 1931 to see the DNA of denial that blighted child protection in Ireland from the State's foundation'. The Dublin South-West TD said the Carrigan committee was appointed in 1930 and held 17 sessions. One witness, the police commissioner of the time, 'highlighted an alarming amount of sexual crime, increasing yearly, a feature of which was the large number of cases of criminal interference with girls and children from 16 years and downwards, many children under 10 years of age'. He said the police commissioner believed that less than 15 per cent of sexual crime was being prosecuted but government chose not to publish the report. Minister for Education Helen McEntee thanked 'every single survivor for their bravery, whether they were in a position to come forward or not'. She also thanked the late Mark Ryan and his brother David who came forward for the RTÉ documentary Blackrock Boys, after which the Government established a scoping inquiry. In an address to survivors she said: 'I am truly sorry for what was done to you and the devastating impacts it had on your lives, but I want to thank each and every person for their bravery.'
