News

The Green Party was more interested in greenwashing the report than accepting its findings Green Party leader Roderick O’Gorman must explain why a Green Party spin doctor put an independent state agency under pressure to edit a report on carbon emissions, according Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “According to a report in today’s Irish […]

An effective promise to increase energy costs is a bizarre election promise Fine Gael’s VAT proposals for hospitality would result in increased energy costs for everyone in the country, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “If Fine Gael abolishes the 9% VAT rate, and replaces it with a permanent 11% rate, the energy […]

Michael O’Leary just said the quiet part out loud Outgoing enterprise minister Peter Burke must clarify if he stands over derisory comments made about teachers at the launch of his election campaign last night, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Gary Gannon. “At the launch of Peter Burke’s election campaign, Michael O’Leary opted to slag […]

The Social Democrats have today launched a comprehensive €200 million plan to breathe life back into Dublin city centre. Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon said: “Dublin has not been a priority for the outgoing government. Under their watch, Dublin is decaying – and it has been in decline for many years. “From increased anti-social behaviour, […]

A major hotel in Dublin, charging exorbitant rates for rooms, cannot and should not be compared to a small cafe in West Cork Hospitality should be split between accommodation and food with a 9% VAT rate applying to food and beverages, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns said: “Small hospitality businesses are […]

Statement from Holly Cairns TD on the start of the election campaign “Elections are about the future. They are a choice about the kind of country we want to live in. “The Social Democrats want a future where every person can thrive and every community flourish. “That future starts with prioritising what is important: affordable […]

Confirmation that the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will come into force in Ireland on November 30, while very welcome news, should not distract from the Government’s indefensible delay in ratifying it, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “Ireland signed the UNCRPD as far back as […]

Electric Ireland’s decision to cut the rate it pays to households for excess electricity generated from solar panels has been described as a retrograde step by Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “It is extremely disappointing to see Electric Ireland reduce its microgeneration export tariff rate, from […]

Revising housing targets on your way out the door is of little use to people struggling to put a roof over their head, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “We have known for some time that the Government’s Housing for All targets were not […]

The latest report from the Child Law Project paints a disturbing picture of how children in the care system are being failed by the State, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “The project’s latest analysis of child care proceedings makes for grim reading. It […]