Government Has No Plan To Tackle Skills Crisis In Construction

The government is not a mere bystander in this crisis – it must play an active role The government has no coherent plan to increase the number of apprenticeships in key trades in the construction industry, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Taoiseach Micheál Martin has encouraged young people finishing their Leaving Cert […]

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Independent Inquiry Into Sexual Abuse In The Defence Forces Must Happen

Repeated efforts by these women to have their complaints of sexual abuse, discrimination and harassment investigated seriously, and credibly, have failed A fully independent investigation is required to determine the extent of sexual abuse, harassment and assault in the defence forces, according to Social Democrats Defence Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Women Of Honour, an RTE documentary […]

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Health Minister Must Explain Resignations of Sláintecare Officials

The decision of both of these eminent people to resign on the same day is significant The announcement that two of the most senior officials, tasked with implementing Sláintecare, have resigned on the same day raises fundamental questions about the progress of this hugely important reform of our health services, according to Social Democrats Health […]

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Legal Basis For Developers’ Affordable Home Exemption Must Be Explained

At every turn, the Minister for Housing has put the interests of big developers ahead of those struggling to buy an affordable homes It is utterly unacceptable that thousands of affordable homes will be lost because of an exemption for developers contained in the Minister’s new housing plan, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian […]

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Contact-Tracing Chaos In Schools Must Be Addressed

We must do everything we can to ensure schools stay open – and remain a safe place for both children and their teachers School principals must not be abandoned to cope with a surge of contact-tracing alone, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Schools reopening in the midst of a delta surge was […]

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Coveney Does Not Stretch Credulity – He Annihilates It

Mr Coveney asks us to believe that Ms Zappone is a mug. That she not only invented a job offer, she invented a start date for that non-existent job Simon Coveney’s latest convoluted explanation of his handling of the botched appointment of Katherine Zappone does not just stretch credulity – it annihilates it, according to […]

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‘Housing For All’ Fails People Trapped In Homelessness

This is a crisis that will only be solved with urgent action and ambition The Government’s new target to provide just 240 Housing First tenancies per year is not good enough, according to the Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Tonight, more than 8,000 people will sleep in emergency homeless accommodation. This includes 930 families […]

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Housing For All Short On Ambition And Imagination

The reality is this government has just one overarching idea to solve the housing crisis – increase exorbitant house prices even further It has taken more than a year in office for Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to publish a housing plan that is short on both ambition and imagination, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson […]

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Foreign Affairs Committee Must Investigate Hacking Of Minister’s Phone

The hacking of the Minister’s phone is a serious national security concern The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee must investigate the revelation that, Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney’s phone was hacked, according to the Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Yesterday, while answering questions at the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee about his failed attempt to […]

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Roadmap For Maternity Services Must Be Published

At every step, and every stage, women and pregnant people have been ignored The government must immediately publish a roadmap for the reopening of maternity services, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “I welcome the publication of the reopening plan for society and the economy, but am struck by a glaring omission. Nowhere, in […]

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