News

Social Democrats Cllr. Cian O’Callaghan said: “I strongly welcome the news that Fingal County Council has lodged a planning application for the Baldoyle to Portmarnock Cycling and Walking Route. This key piece of infrastructure will in time connect to  a more extensive cycling network – the Sutton to Sandycove cycling route to the South and […]

ASK ANY WORKING parent whether they’d be happy to take unpaid leave from their job to spend more time with their children, and the response is usually an enthusiastic ‘yes – if I could afford it!’ The reality is that with the high cost of childcare, the option of one parent – let’s face it […]

The Social Democrats today bring before the Dáil a Bill that gives working parents the opportunity to spend more time caring for their children. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill allows parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected. This is an increase […]

The Social Democrats Political Director Anne-Marie McNally has hit out at what she has said are disturbing violent images of children being used outside Leinster House by members of Anti-Choice lobby groups. Ms McNally said it was profoundly unfair that Leinster House staff have to face such disturbing images while going about the course of […]

AS ANYONE WHO commutes into and around Dublin will have noticed, we are experiencing a return to levels of traffic gridlock last seen over a decade ago. The cross-city Luas has added to the congested centre around College Green. Travellers on suburban rail lines must endure rush-hour journeys uncomfortably crammed into carriages. Even the Taoiseach […]

Social Democrats’ representative Ronan Moore has accused the Department of Education and Skills of stunting the growth of recently opened Educate Together primary schools. Mr Moore was commenting on a report today that five schools under the multi-denominational patron have been told by the Department that they must reduce their new pupil intake from a […]

During my 33 years, Galway has changed from a large town to a small city. But we haven’t done a good job of managing that change. Housing estate after housing estate has sprung up with little additional services in the form of public transport, cycle lanes, community centres or local businesses. Jobs were located in […]

Social Democrats Co-Leader Catherine Murphy has said she is pleased with the information that Minister Harris provided during a briefing for opposition leaders on the forthcoming Referendum to Repeal the 8th Amendment to the Constitution. Deputy Murphy said that Minister Harris circulated a detailed summary of the Attorney General’s advice to Cabinet to those present […]

The Department of Education must intervene to allow students and teachers from Coláiste Ráithín in Bray to move into their new school building which has been delayed by the Carillion collapse, Social Democrats’ councillor Jennifer Whitmore said today. Local Cllr Whitmore said: “I attended a meeting last night at which teachers, parents and students from […]

The Social Democrats have today reiterated their call for the Attorney General’s advice on wording of the amendment to repeal the 8th to be published without delay. “Citizens of Ireland will make a decision shortly on repealing the 8th Amendment. If the 8th Amendment is repealed, legislation to allow for abortion in certain circumstances will be brought before […]