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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 […]

The Government must put a pause on data centres until a strategic analysis of their impact on energy demand is carried out, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “A briefing document provided to new Enterprise Minister Peter Burke reveals that the State’s renewable energy […]

Parents and pupils must be reassured that they will not face extra costs due to a Department of Education cut to the annual grant for primary schools, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “Just one year into a free schoolbooks scheme, which was announced […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has questioned why the Health Minister’s review of urgent and emergency care capacity in the mid-west is only happening now. “This latest development has all the signs of a political stunt. “A second ED has been needed in the mid-west for years. Why has the Minister only started listening […]

Fencing off the city to prevent homeless asylum seekers from setting up tents is not a sustainable solution to the immigration accommodation crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on integration, said: “Just hours after removing more than 100 tents from along the banks of the Grand […]