News

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said she is deeply concerned that two weeks after their cases were identified, no action has yet been taken in relation to the 1,631 women who developed cervical cancers and were not included in the CervicalCheck audit. Deputy Shortall said: “I have been raising the position of the […]

A Social Democrats’ private members’ bill to enable working parents to spend more time caring for their children goes to committee stage tomorrow, Wednesday 16th May. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 allows parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected. This […]

The Social Democrats have strongly condemned today’s violence in Gaza in which dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured by Israeli troops on the day the US opens its embassy in Jerusalem. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The decision by President Trump to move the US embassy to Jerusalem is utterly […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said that serious questions remain following today’s cabinet meeting on the Cervical Check crisis and that the public should not have to wait until the outcome of a formal investigation to get answers. Deputy Shortall also called on the government to expedite legislation to allow for a statutory […]

On foot of Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy’s warning of a “significant feud” in Ballymun, TD for the area Róisín Shortall has hit out at the shocking drop in the number of Gardaí stationed in Ballymun. Figures released to Deputy Shortall have revealed the number of sergeants in the area has been halved, from 24 at […]

Dublin Bay North Social Democrats Cllr. Cian O’Callaghan has called for Irish Rail to put staff and security in place at Clongriffin Dart Station following today’s graffiti attack. Cllr. O’Callaghan said: “In what Irish Rail has described as an “unprecedented graffiti attack”, a group of people blocked the doors of a train with pieces of […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has welcomed today’s announcement by Google that it is to follow the lead of Facebook and restrict referendum advertisements. Deputy Murphy said: “While I welcome today’s announcement by Google and yesterday’s similar move by Facebook, we cannot leave the fate of our democratic decision making to the good intentions […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to appoint a new head of the HSE on an interim basis – and to only fill the post permanently once key accountability reforms are carried out. Deputy Shortall said: “At the heart of the Cervical Check crisis is a lack of […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to relieve Mr Thomas Lynch of his chairmanship of Irish hospital boards, saying his public-sector positions are incompatible with his extensive involvement in big pharma and medical supplies companies and his private fundraising efforts for the Taoiseach. Deputy Shortall said: “Mr Lynch […]

Social Democrats Political Director and Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Anne-Marie McNally has called on Government to urgently address the serious deficiencies in financial literacy education and to maximise free banking and micro-financing options particularly for those on lower incomes. A reply to a parliamentary question received by the Social Democrats this week indicates that only 50% […]