News

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 […]

A multi-layered response is required to tackle knife crime across the country, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who is the party’s spokesperson on justice, said: “Figures supplied to me through a parliamentary question give rise to serious concerns. “According to the Department of Justice, more than 18,000 knives have been seized […]

The harrowing RTÉ Investigates programme into our abortion services is further evidence of the urgent need to reform the law, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The RTÉ Investigates programme into our abortion services was difficult to watch. Six years after the Repeal vote, we are still failing women who are being forced to […]

The latest Locked Out of the Market report from the Simon Community is showing the dire consequences of the Government’s overreliance on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) system, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Only 38 homes in the entire country are now falling […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon its controversial Green Paper proposals on overhauling the system for disability payments. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “The proposals in Minister Humphreys’ Green Paper were ill-judged and highly insulting to disabled people. “It should therefore come as little […]