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Education is the single greatest driver of opportunity, quality of life, social equality and economic growth The Social Democrats will today (Sunday, November 17) outline proposals to make education genuinely free; aim to remove faith formation from the school day; and provide emotional supports in schools for primary and second-level students. The party’s education policy […]

The Social Democrats today announced proposals to prevent the waste of taxpayers’ money as part of a range of measures aimed at restoring trust and accountability in politics and public life. The policy document, ‘Honest Politics, Better Government – Restoring Trust and Accountability in Politics and Public Life’, will be launched by Dublin Central candidate […]

Michael O’Leary just said the quiet part out loud Outgoing enterprise minister Peter Burke must clarify if he stands over derisory comments made about teachers at the launch of his election campaign last night, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Gary Gannon. “At the launch of Peter Burke’s election campaign, Michael O’Leary opted to slag […]

The Social Democrats have today launched a comprehensive €200 million plan to breathe life back into Dublin city centre. Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon said: “Dublin has not been a priority for the outgoing government. Under their watch, Dublin is decaying – and it has been in decline for many years. “From increased anti-social behaviour, […]

The large turnout for a hoax Halloween parade on O’Connell Street last night shows there is a public appetite for such events in Dublin, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: “While hundreds of people were left disappointed after turning up in the city centre in the expectation […]

The Social Democrats today launched their Digital and Online Safety policy. It was launched by Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon and Sinéad Gibney, the party’s general election candidate in Dublin Rathdown, who has considerable expertise in this area and had significant input into the drafting of the policy document. Among the measures proposed is the […]

Israel’s ban on UNRWA operating within its territory will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank and must be met with the strongest possible response by the international community, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on foreign affairs, said: “Yet again, the Israeli government […]

Rory Hearne, the Social Democrats general election candidate in Dublin North-West, has urged the National Transport Authority (NTA) to reverse its plans to axe the Number 11 route as part of BusConnects changes due to come into effect next month. Dr Hearne said: “Under changes to be introduced in late November, the Numbers 4, 11 […]

The timing of the publication of the Dublin City Taskforce report, just weeks ahead of a general election, has been described as deeply cynical by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. “Members of the taskforce completed their work on time and submitted their recommendations to the Taoiseach back in September. However, he sat on this report […]

The Tánaiste’s admission that members of the Cabinet have yet to see the completed Dublin City Taskforce report has been described as an extraordinary abdication of responsibility by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is a TD for Dublin Central, said: “When I questioned the Tánaiste in the Dáil, he responded that the […]