Latest news with #LauraHarmon
The Journal
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Labour's marriage equality event forced to move venues amid protest threats
THE LABOUR PARTY was forced to change venues for its marriage equality anniversary event today following threats of protest, it has said. The event was due to be held at the Hen's Teeth in Dublin 8, but following threats being made against a number of public representatives and due to concerns being raised about staff working at the venue, the party said it had no choice but to move the event to the Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre. The party said it informed the gardaí about a number of public representatives being targeted and also about protests which were due to take place this evening. Sources within the party said the protest is understood to centre around the issue of immigration rather than about the subject of the event, the tenth anniversary of marriage equality in Ireland. They said posters to advertise the event were hung around Dublin in the last week. Party leader Ivana Bacik, Senator Laura Harmon, James Kearney, Chair of Labour LGBTQ+ and Eamon Gilmore, former leader of the Labour Party spoke at tonight's event. Speaking this evening, Bacik said: 'It's a great shame that our event to celebrate 10 years of marriage equality was targeted by members of the far right. Like many groups which have been historically marginalised in Ireland, the LGBTQ+ community has had to fight for its rights, often in the face of intimidation. Advertisement 'Labour has always been proud to stand with them in that fight, whether it was for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, for legal protections from employment discrimination, for the right to marry, for gender recognition laws, for access to PrEP and other prophylactics, and more. 'More recently, Labour was one of few political parties in Ireland to remain steadfast in our support for the introduction of stronger hate speech and hate crime legislation.' Bacik said while the safety of activists is paramount, the party took a decision 'not to bow to intimidation'. She thanked the Outhouse Centre for offering the use of its venue to allow tonight's event to go ahead and the gardaí for their advice and support in advance of tonight. Thanks was also extended to those in other political parties who came in support of the event this evening such as Green Party politicians, Michael Pidgeon and Patrick Costello, Jen Cummins of the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin's Kourtney Kenny. 'The far right cannot stop us from coming together to celebrate ten years of marriage equality, and they cannot stop us from asking 'what's next?' for LGBTQ+ rights. The events of the last few days have only served to emphasise the importance of that question,' said Bacik. She said the Labour Party remains steadfast in its determination to see the values of equality, solidarity and fairness for everyone in society be realised. Speaking at the event, Labour Senator Laura Harmon said the ten year anniversary of marriage equality is a reminder that there is much work to do in terms of equality for LGBTQI+ families and in terms of supporting the transgender community. 'Seeing Hungary ban Pride Parades is a reminder that rights can be rowed back on and we must protect the rights we have won,' she said. Harmon said the party must never stop campaigning for a better future. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Government must provide a 'clear timeline' for disability service reform
A 'clear timeline' is needed from the Government on how reforms to services for children with disabilities will be carried out, Senator Laura Harmon has said. The programme for government commits to 'delivering a step change in disability services' and also to 'helping children get the therapies they need'. However HSE data, released to the Labour party last week showed children's disability network teams (CDNTs) are overworked and struggling to get through waiting lists. Ms Harmon, Labour's disability spokeswoman, expressed serious concerns at 'the alarming situation' facing families in the south west. 'Cork and Kerry have the highest regional waiting list and that is for psychology where there was 6,216 on the (national) waiting list at end of 2024 — a total of 5,275 of these were in Cork,' she said. The data shows 'thousands of children' are being 'let down by the State' she said, referring to disability services and primary care services. We need a clear timeline from the minister that sets out measures that will be made available in Cork and nationally to support children with additional needs. 'And there must be a roll-out of much needed in-school therapists, as well ensuring that every child will have a school place in September.' She called for 'urgent action' on the lack of access to these therapies, indicating both Norma Foley, minister for children and disability as well as Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, health minister should be involved. She also raised concerns about occupational therapy waiting lists. Therapists help children with writing skills or sensory processing for example. 'In Cork, there were 3,736 waiting on first time occupational therapy assessments at the end of 2024,' she warned. In addition, she pointed out the data shows 1,410 children waiting on an initial assessment for speech and language therapy in this county alone. 'A further 1,670 were awaiting initial speech and language therapy at the end of 2024 in Cork - the highest regional figure on this waiting list outside Dublin,' she said. Children are also struggling to access audiology sessions where study of hearing, balance, and related disorders takes place. Ms Harmon said: It is very concerning that 2,235 children were waiting on appointments for audiology at the end of 2024 in Cork. HSE Southwest has said they face recruitment challenges for the CDNT The north east Cork CDNT should have the equivalent of 17.2 staff but has 12.6 instead. Other Cork teams face varying challenges, so while some roles are staffed to the approved level, many are not. The situation is similar in Kerry although more roles appear staffed to the approved levels according to HSE data shared with the Irish Examiner last month. Read More SNAs may get better job security under NCSE scheme
Irish Examiner
27-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Property website to introduce measures to prevent sex-for-rent advertisements
Property website is introducing measures to prevent sex-for-rent advertisements appearing on its platform as a third attempt to legislate against the practice goes through the Seanad. Earlier this month, Labour senator Laura Harmon introduced the Prohibition of Advertising or Importuning Sex for Rent Bill 2025 in the Seanad and the legislation proceeded to third stage without opposition from the Government. The bill proposes a fine of up to €50,000 for advertising sex-for-rent offers, with the legislation covering any follow-up texts, direct messages, emails or other correspondence after the initial advert. Following a debate on the bill earlier this month, has now said it is looking at ways it can identify advertisements which could be offering sex-for-rent arrangements. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the platform said it has updated its house rules to now include that: "Any advertisement submitted to that, in our sole discretion, appears to solicit or offer sexual services in exchange for rent will be removed without notice. "The individual responsible for such content will be permanently prohibited from posting further advertisements on the platform." It says it has also built a functionality into its website which will raise flags about content which requires manual review before it goes live, 'or entirely restricts advertisers from using certain prohibited words or phrases in their advertisements'. is looking at ways it can identify advertisements which could be offering sex-for-rent arrangements. 'For example, our system will block or flag advertisers who try to enter terms such as "HAP" of "professional couple" etc. as such phrases can potentially be used in a discriminatory way against applicants," the website said. "Following the Seanad debate transcript, we noted that certain phrases commonly associated in ads where the landlord is seeking sex for rent (e.g. "must be open-minded", "must be up for having fun in the house", "can negotiate"). "We have now added these to our list of prohibited phrases in advertisements. Any ads containing such terms will now be flagged for manual review before they go live.' The statement said the website is open to working with Ms Harmon to gather a more comprehensive list of such phrases "and will continue to update our prohibited list accordingly". "While we recognise that much of this activity does not occur on and is more likely found in private messaging via social media we are committed to doing everything we can to protect tenants on as they search for accommodation (sic).' The criminalising of people who make sex-for-rent offers has been included in the programme for government, more than three years since the Government pledged to tackle the issue as a priority in the wake of an Irish Examiner investigation. Online advertisements regularly appear on a number of websites offering reduced or no rent in return for sex. Separately, people responding to accommodation advertisements on social media receive similar offers in private messages from the homeowners. Previous attempts to legislate against the practice include the Ban on Sex for Rent Bill introduced by the Social Democrats two years ago, and the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Sex for Rent) Bill 2023, introduced in the Dáil by Sinn Féin last year. The Social Democrats legislation failed to pass pre-legislative scrutiny while there has been no movement on the Sinn Féin bill.
