News

Ireland must use its EU Presidency to put pressure on the bloc to course correct and restore its founding principles of respect for human rights and international law, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The Government says Ireland’s EU Presidency will be defined by action on European competitiveness, values […]

The Minister has repeatedly said this LNG terminal will be State-owned and State-led, but there is no reference to that in the legislation Government legislation to establish a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve is a monument to government failure, accord to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “This legislation is being rushed through […]

The Minister for Justice must develop a strategy to combat the sinister rise in violence and aggression against migrants, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “The increase in racially motivated attacks – on people, property and places of worship – is something that should concern […]

The Government must make it a priority to investigate whether there is price gouging in the electric vehicle charging market, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Last week, we learned that the cost of charging an EV at Ionity public charging points was just as high as filling a car […]

The Media Minister must ensure that a website linked to the deaths of two Irish people detailed in a report today by The Journal is blocked with immediate effect, according to Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the Oireachtas AI Committee, said: “Firstly, my thoughts go out to the victims […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore will introduce a landmark Bill this week aimed at reducing renewable energy wastage by making surplus electricity available to struggling households at no cost. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Last year, more than half a billion euros in renewable energy was wasted. This is scandalous […]

Government plans to sanction performance-related salary increases for transport bosses, including the CEO of CIE, must be shelved until there is full accountability for the botched handling of Irish Rail’s new traffic management system (TMS), according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s transport spokesperson, said: “This essential IT project […]

The Government is refusing to take emergency measures to address the homelessness crisis, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s figures show there were 17,447 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of May. Shockingly, 5,583 of them are children. “There’s been a 20% increase in the number […]

The Government must move beyond words of support this Pride by taking action to ban conversion practices, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is a longtime advocate and campaigner for LGBTQIA+ rights, said: “Conversion ‘therapy’ describes a range a practices which aim to change or supress an individual’s sexual orientation […]

A proactive approach to public transport provision must be taken to tackle the adverse health and economic effects of congestion on our motorways, according to Social Democrats transport spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “The findings of the Centre for Transport Research at Trinity College Dublin’s M50 user survey are grim but not surprising. We […]