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Every child deserves not just a school place – but an appropriate place that will help them to reach their full potential  The Education Minister must urgently clarify if she is plans to redesignate special schools which cater to children who have mild general learning disabilities, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Jen Cummins. “Due […]

Today’s record numbers are a direct result of failed government policies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne made his comments as a new record high for homelessness was confirmed this afternoon: “Today’s figures show there were 15,580 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of April. Shockingly, 4,775 of […]

Ireland has a legal obligation under the Genocide Convention to do everything we can to stop genocide, according to Social Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It is shameful that the government is hiding behind vague legal advice when it comes to preventing the Central Bank from facilitating the sale of Israeli […]

The government must heed warnings that new housing developments will be put at risk if it continues to roll out the red carpet for data centres, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Oonagh Buckley, secretary general at the Department of Environment, Climate and Energy, […]

Today’s revelation of an IT overspend of €900,000 by RTÉ shows that lack of transparency and mismanagement continue to plague the national broadcaster, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on arts and the media, said: “Just weeks after it emerged RTÉ had to write-down €3.6 million due […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has voiced concern following reports that the US government is pausing new foreign student visa interviews and ramping up scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity – a move she believes has serious implications for academic freedom and free expression. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on higher education, said: […]

The government is delusional if it believes Ireland won’t face billions in EU fines for missing its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “The latest analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a bleak assessment of the government’s […]

Today’s proposal to allow developers to extend planning permission beyond five years risks rewarding land speculation, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “In the dying days of the last government, the Planning and Development Act was signed into law – the legislation is more than 900 pages long. “We were […]

The Dáil should sit next week to fast-track the Occupied Territories Bill, according to Senator Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson, who is the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said: “We need to see this bill enacted as a matter of urgency, even if this means recalling the Dáil next week and delaying summer recess. “Almost six months […]

There must be full accountability and transparency from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in relation to a succession of scandals, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “A report in yesterday’s Sunday Times that a consultant breached guidelines by referring public patients to his own private […]