News

Cllr Ronan Moore, Social Democrats, has called on the government and Department of Education and Skills to urgently publish guidelines that schools would need to adhere to in order to reopen next September. In doing so he has voiced his concern that if such protocols are not developed soon then we risk having a repeat […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore has called for a widening to other small Irish businesses of the postal rates now available to small bookshops during the Covid-19 crisis. Deputy Whitmore said: “Very many small independent businesses, including bookshops, have had to close their shop doors in response to the lockdown and many businesses […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed the announcement that the Sisters of Charity have received approval from the Vatican to transfer ownership of the site for the new National Maternity Hospital to St Vincents Holdings CLG.  However, this does not constitute public ownership of the site.  Deputy Shortall said today’s development should be […]

In the Dáil this evening Social Democrats T.D. for Dublin Bay North, Deputy Cian O’Callaghan highlighted the impact overcrowding is having on the spread of COVID-19 and called on the Minister to roll out systematic testing for high-risk groups who live in overcrowded conditions. In advance of the debate, Cian O’Callaghan said: “It is clear […]

Today in the Dáil, Social Democrats T.D. for Dublin Bay North, Deputy Cian O’Callaghan, questioned the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. on the inclusion of climate change targets in the EU-UK trade deal. Deputy Cian O’Callaghan said: “It is really worrying that the UK is resisting the EU’s ask to include […]

Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore, has said it is a matter of extreme urgency that Government and relevant stakeholders meet to discuss the insurance implications for childcare providers who are considering participating in the proposed scheme for the provision of childcare to healthcare workers. She said information released today points out […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has told the Dáil that the response to the Covid crisis at EU level cannot be similar to the response to economic crash in 2008 which led to extreme austerity for some member states, including Ireland.  She said that all member states would have to appreciate the scale of the problem […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore, and TD for Wicklow, calls for the establishment of a Transition Task Force to develop a plan specifically for children and young people to transition out of Covid-19 restrictions. Deputy Whitmore stated: “People often forget that children and young people have also been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 […]

Cork South West TD and Social Democrats Spokesperson on Agriculture Holly Cairns has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, sector leaders and representative organisations, to work together, in a serious and urgent fashion, to agree measures to reduce our carbon emissions, in a just transition that supports farmers.  Holly Cairns TD […]

Paul Mulville, Social Democrats councillor for the Rush Lusk Ward, has called for urgent changes to be made to Fingal County Council’s Housing policy, in order to ensure that separated parents are fairly treated. Cllr Mulville stated: “Separated parents on the council’s housing waiting list have long faced difficulties trying to access adequate support under […]