News

Many Dubliners have a love-hate relationship with Temple Bar. Whichever way you feel, though, at least it’s not a bus station. Some 30 years ago there were serious moves afoot to plonk a transport hub in the area. The plan never made it off the drawing board and today the city’s unofficial cultural quarter throbs […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to come clean about the state of play with the ownership, control and construction of the new National Maternity Hospital. “How is it that preparations for construction of the new facility are apparently at such an advanced stage yet we are still […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today said it would be highly irresponsible for the Minister for Health to allow himself to be strong-armed into signing off on a deal on the new National Maternity Hospital without watertight assurances about its ownership, governance and environmental standards. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today said it […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today urged the Minister for Health to vigorously pursue the State purchase of the site in Elm Park earmarked for the new National Maternity Hospital. “The only way to ensure that this much needed hospital will be an entirely public and secular hospital is for the State to buy […]

The Social Democrats have said today’s findings of low waste recycling rates among householders and businesses will not get better unless drastic action is taken to improve both public awareness and recycling processes. “We need to assist and educate householders and businesses to play their part by recycling more. But far more importantly, we need […]

One of the “most read” articles on The Irish Times website last week ran under the headline: “No way in hell would I move back to Ireland: Emigrant builders have their say.” “Taoiseach wants to use your money in a cynical attempt to buy votes.” One of the “most read” articles on The Irish Times […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD today accused the government of callous indifference to the threat of homelessness hanging over people and families in the private rental sector. “Renters really have their backs to the wall, with many struggling to keep roofs over their heads while living with the daily fear of unaffordable rent hikes […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD today called on Minister Heather Humphreys to publish the full report into the collapse of the trial of the former Anglo banker Seán Fitzpatrick. “I simply don’t buy the line that this important report can’t be published in full due to legal considerations. There is an overwhelming case for […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today accused the government of betraying people with disabilities by its continued denial of promised rights under an important UN Convention. “This week we marked International Day of Disabled Persons 2018. Yet the government continues to betray people with disabilities by denying them the right to bring complaints under […]

Social Democrats candidate for Dublin Bay South, Sarah Durcan, today called for urgent regulation of the English language school sector following the sudden closure of Grafton College language school. “It’s not acceptable that 500 students and 20 teachers have been left in the lurch by the sudden closure of this college just weeks before Christmas. […]