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A damning report from the Housing Commission is further evidence that the Government’s housing targets are hopelessly inadequate, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “According to reports today, the Housing Commission estimates that Ireland’s housing deficit from pent-up demand is as high as 256,000 homes. […]

Shameful levels of child poverty will be one of this Government’s enduring legacies, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “The release of the Children’s Rights Alliance’s third Child Poverty Monitor makes for grim reading. “The report reveals that 260,773 children experienced enforced deprivation in […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leadership. “Charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant include causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war – including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies – and […]

A Social Democrats’ motion highlighting the deepening crisis in dental care in Ireland will be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday (May 22). Róisín Shortall TD, the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Dental care continues to be one of the most neglected areas of our health service. “The school screening programme is of particular concern. Children […]

Unfair exclusion of Ireland South candidate Susan Doyle from RTÉ debates puts her at a huge disadvantage to her competitors Two opinion polls in the past week have highlighted the unfairness of the exclusion of Social Democrats candidates by RTÉ from their televised European election debates, according to Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns. “A […]

The Government is failing vulnerable tenants by not introducing promised legislation to make demanding sex for rent a criminal offence, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “A new report from the National Women’s Council (NWC) has called for legislation to criminalise sex for rent. “It […]

The Social Democrats today launched their campaigns for next month’s Local and European Elections. For the first time, the party will be running candidates in all three constituencies for the European Elections – Sinéad Gibney (Dublin), Rory Hearne (Midlands-North-West) and Susan Doyle (Ireland South). The Social Democrats are also contesting the Limerick Mayoral election with […]

The HSE’s recruitment freeze is preventing the recruitment of funded specialist nursing posts, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In a reply to a parliamentary question I submitted, it was confirmed that 13 specialist nursing posts in neurological services remain unfilled. Even though funding for these positions was provided in Budget 2022, the […]

The latest report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) paints a bleak picture for first-time buyers, 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 in Ireland has increased by 7.3 per cent in the 12 months to March 2024. The median […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the urgent regulation of nicotine pouches and for an analysis of the extent of their use by those under the under the age of 18. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “These pouches come in the form of small bags and contain highly […]