News

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has described confirmation that Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is to be integrated into the HSE by 2027 as an inevitable consequence of the organisation’s litany of failures. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “This is welcome news, but hardly a surprising development given the succession of controversies […]

The government’s inability to clarify when it will enact the Occupied Territories Bill is shameful, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “In response to Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns during today’s leaders’ questions, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that the Occupied Territories Bill is considered priority legislation and […]

The government must stand up to tech giants when it comes to securing our data, according to Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “The Data Protection Commission has completely let us down when it comes to protecting our privacy – it is clear as day that our regulators are wholly unable to […]

The government’s failure to adequately support the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector is creating unnecessary blockages in the delivery of social and affordable homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The Taoiseach and Minister for Housing have talked about creating certainty and stability in housing […]

It is absolutely terrifying to think that in Ireland in 2025, people can be tracked right to their very door through data that is being openly sold, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “This is a breach of privacy and, as Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson rightly pointed out, a […]

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) must immediately reverse its decision not to attend this week’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Sport and Media, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the committee and is the party’s spokesperson on sport, said: “Part of respecting sport as a public good is […]

Newly published guidelines for special needs assistants will harm some of the most vulnerable children in our schools, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “These guidelines do not represent progress – they are designed to ration resources, not to support children. “At a time when schools are already under huge […]

Growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by the international community, while welcome, must be matched with punitive sanctions to force Israel to end its genocidal campaign in Gaza, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Following yesterday’s declarations by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal, today’s session of the UN General […]

It’s beyond time this government takes the blinkers off and prepares for a future without the nitrates derogation for farmers, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Today, Ireland will present its case for renewal of the derogation to the EU’s Nitrates Committee – an application that, ultimately, looks doomed to […]

The continued downward trend in house commencement notices has been described by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne as another ominous sign that the government won’t come anywhere close to reaching its 40,000 new homes target for 2025. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Every other day seems to bring further bad news […]