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The government must extend the payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid before it lapses on New Years Eve, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “The special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers with long COVID is going to end in […]

A new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) reveals some uncomfortable truths about the government’s prospects of meeting its climate action targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The SEAI’s 2024 Energy in Ireland report states that we have failed to break […]

The government’s decision to renege on promises to roll out a public model of childcare is shortsighted and lacking in ambition, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “I’m deeply disappointed that there’s been no mention of the provision of public childcare in the Minister for Children’s action plan for the sector. […]

Councillor Daniel Ennis, who represents Dublin’s North Inner City, has been selected as the Social Democrats candidate to contest the upcoming Dublin Central by-election. The election, which is expected to take place in April or May, will see the Social Democrats aim to secure a second seat in the constituency alongside Gary Gannon TD Daniel […]

Appropriate healthcare services in the Mid-West cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought by government, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Option C – the development of a Model 3 hospital with an emergency department in the Mid-West region – cannot be put on the long finger. “Another ED […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the government’s intention to finally move on her repeated calls to grant the Agri-Food Regulator increased powers to improve transparency in food supply chains. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s agriculture spokesperson, said: “With suspected price gouging by supermarkets continuing to squeeze household budgets, it’s more important than […]

The scrapping of the plan to introduce a cap on the value of homes eligible for the State’s vacant property grant is a backwards step in affordable housing provision, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The government has failed to cap the value of homes that are eligible for the […]

The government’s delayed childcare plan must contain a clear timeline for reducing monthly fees to €200 and begin the process of establishing a public early years model, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s children’s spokesperson, said: “Prior to last year’s general election, Simon Harris promised to publish a […]

The decision of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CRU) to greenlight electricity price rises for consumers – without doing anything to reign in gouging by energy companies – will heap further pressure on struggling families, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “In an interview on Morning Ireland this morning, a […]

The announcement that the National Gender Service’s waiting list is to close will leave the trans community with even fewer avenues for care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice TD. Deputy Rice said: “The trans community continues to be utterly failed by the State – the National Gender Service is not fit for […]