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Figures published today by the Central Statistics Office expose the Government’s spin on housing for what it is, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “According to the CSO, there were 5,841 new dwelling completions in the first quarter of this year – a fall […]

Simon Harris is following in the long tradition of this Government’s Taoisigh making promises that they cannot deliver, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The new Taoiseach made big and bold promises of 50,000 homes a year during the recent Fine Gael Ard Fheis – […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has criticised Minister Eamon Ryan’s attempts to distance himself from the Irish Government’s objection to the ‘Swiss Grannies’ climate case taken in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: “The Minister is trying to blame a badly worded […]

A new report highlighting a significant increase in heat-related deaths in Europe over the past two decades lays bare the dire consequences of countries failing to meet their climate action targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: “As we mark Earth Day […]

Sinéad Gibney, the Social Democrats’ Dublin candidate for the European Election and former Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner, has welcomed confirmation that there will be a State apology to the Stardust families in the Dáil on Tuesday – but says it must mark a turning point in how victims of injustice are treated in […]

The intimidation and harassment of politicians by so-called protesters must be met with a robust policing response, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The alarming scenes we witnessed last night outside the home of Minister Roderic O’Gorman must not be allowed to continue. “It is concerning that no apparent action was taken by gardaí […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has welcomed the verdicts delivered today by the jury in the inquests into the 1981 Stardust tragedy. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is a TD for Dublin Bay North, said: “Today’s unlawful killing verdict in the case of each of the 48 victims is a watershed moment in the Stardust families’ decades-long search […]

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are turning Ireland into a nation of renters, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The vast majority of new apartments are only available to rent at exorbitant prices. “While renting suits some, most people would rather live in a place […]

Skyrocketing house prices are locking a generation out of home ownership, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The cost of buying a home has increased by a further 6.1 per cent in the past 12 months, according to the latest Residential Property Price Index from […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has welcomed the Taoiseach’s response to her in the Dáil that there will be a three-month extension of a temporary payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid. “It is simply unconscionable that this cohort of workers, who have been unable to resume their employment due to ongoing Covid symptoms, were […]