News

Speaking after today’s Health Committee session on Covid-19 in nursing homes, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, expressed her serious concern and disappointment that so little has changed since the first wave of the pandemic. Deputy Shortall commented: “It is shocking that we are now seeing a second tragic wave of Covid-19 in […]

Tá sé fógartha ag na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta nach cuimsitheach ná cumhachtach go leor é Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, in ainneoin na 300 leasuithe a bhí molta ag lucht an fhreasúra nuige seo, agus céad leasú astu diúltaithe. “Tá pobail áirithe na Gaeilge timpeall na tíre seo, idir muintir na Gaeltachta go cainteoirí agus teaghlaigh lán-Ghaeilge, […]

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins will be calling for gender balance on Fingal County Council’s Corporate Policy Group (CPG) when she puts forward a motion at this month’s council meeting. The Corporate Policy Group is made up of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the Chairs of the council’s six Special Policy Committees. Its function includes preparing […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed today’s news that the European Medicines Agency has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine for authorisation in the EU. Deputy Shortall commented: “Today’s news that the EMA has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine will come as a relief, especially to older people. “It is regrettable that, at this […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has welcomed confirmation that the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is to immediately release all captured hares back into the wild. Deputy Whitmore had raised concerns after the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, conceded recently that some hares may have […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD today described the two-tier system of emergency accommodation for homeless people as completely unacceptable. Commenting, Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Brendan Kenny of Dublin City Council confirmed at today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Housing Committee that the National Quality and Standards Framework for homeless service providers is not being applied […]

The Oireachtas Housing Committee learnt today that homeless deaths in Dublin increased by 61% in 2020. In total, 79 people who were homeless in Dublin died in 2020, according to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive. This compares to 49 in 2019 and 47 in 2018. Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said: “It is tragic […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has expressed frustration after the Minister for Housing was again unable to provide clear answers as to why homeless people are still being turned away from emergency accommodation. Speaking after tackling Minister O’Brien on the issue in the Dáil today, Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, commented: “Minister […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that all hares netted for coursing purposes in December will be released back into the wild. In response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Whitmore, Minister Darragh O’Brien said it was his […]

There is broad public acceptance that enforceable quarantine measures are required to keep other variants of Covid-19 out of the country, according to Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Murphy told the Taoiseach that the Government seems to be operating on the working assumption that international travel […]