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The National Treasury Management Fund must immediately clarify whether it remains invested in companies operating in the West Bank, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “It is utterly unacceptable that the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund remained invested last year in five companies named in the latest UN Human Rights Office […]

The Government must act on the recommendations of a cross-party report on homelessness and introduce an emergency no-fault eviction ban, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s report from the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage offers important solutions for how the State should respond to homelessness. “The […]

In response to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Children has said there is no plan to conduct a review of Tusla, despite recent reports that the agency is failing to report cases of alleged child abuse to the Gardaí, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “I wrote to the […]

Government plans to introduce a social media ban for under-16s could potentially drive children to more unregulated and dangerous corners of the internet, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s media spokesperson, said: “It is deeply frustrating to see this continued tunnel vision from the Government who seem intent […]

The Justice Minister’s handling of this fiasco has been unnecessarily divisive, combative and utterly cackhanded The Justice Minister’s proposed hatchet job on criminal legal aid will decimate it and cripple the legal system, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The Justice Minister’s proposed hatchet job on criminal legal aid, and […]

The passage of the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026, also known as ‘Valerie’s Law’, through the Dáil today is a landmark step towards justice, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns said: “This legislation seeks to ensure that a parent convicted of killing the other parent does not automatically […]

The Taoiseach must meet with the owner of the Silk Road Café to discuss how this situation arose and to ensure something like this never happens again, according to Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes. Deputy Hayes said: “I raised the Silk Road Cafe, which remains closed after being forced to abruptly shut, with the Taoiseach […]

The introduction of a flat-fee system for legal aid representation will effectively dismantle a system which, while not perfect in many respects, functions well when it comes to safeguarding the right to effective legal representation and the right to a fair trial, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The system […]

Accelerated decarbonisation of our bus and rail fleet, along with improvements to existing public transport services, will be required to reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and help us meet our climate action targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “A report from the […]

A new report published today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a worrying snapshot of Ireland’s water quality that requires immediate Government attention, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “The EPA’s report shows there was little change in water quality indicators in 2025. Overall […]