News

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, and Cork South West TD, Holly Cairns, have called on the HSE to ease the restrictions in maternity wards that prevent partners being present for the entirety of the mother’s labour and for the duration of the hospital stay. Deputy Cairns said: “In the past few weeks […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Agriculture and the Marine, has said that the Government’s new penalty points system for the fishing industry is deeply flawed and not fit for purpose. Holly said: “The penalty points system is designed to target breaches of fisheries rules but those working in the industry are concerned that […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, has said that any increase in third level places this year must be matched by additional State funding. Holly said: “The reopening of third level institutions will be as challenging as the reopening of our schools. Colleges and universities are doing the best they […]

Two Social Democrats TDs – Gary Gannon and Holly Cairns – have called on the Minister for Higher Education to clarify issues raised by CAO applicants who sat the Leaving Certificate in previous years but will not benefit from predicted grades inflation when results are released next week. Gary Gannon TD, the party’s spokesperson on […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, has called on the Government to fund a reduction in third level registration fees in light of the emerging shift to online lectures for the upcoming term. Holly said: “I strongly support the Union of Students in Ireland’s call for a minimum €500 reduction […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Agriculture, Holly Cairns TD, and the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Environment, Jennifer Whitmore TD, believe that the Government’s new Forestry Bill is significantly flawed and in direct contravention of EU Directives and the Aarhus Convention which protect people’s rights to appeal decisions in environmental planning. Deputy Whitmore and Deputy […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, has called for measures to support students seeking accommodation who have less protections than other renters. Holly said: “Students and their families are facing an incredibly hard year with uncertainty about how teaching and learning will be delivered in colleges. This means students are […]

Social Democrats TD for Cork South-West, Holly Cairns, is seeking immediate action and greater consultation with communities after successive flood events in the past two weeks. Holly said: “We’re now in our third week of flooding in West Cork. Towns and communities, including Bandon, Skibbereen and Bantry, have been affected by floods recently. “This situation […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Agriculture, has criticised the lack of commitment from the meat processing industry to immediately close individual plants in the event of further outbreaks of Covid-19. Holly said: “At today’s Special Covid-19 Committee hearing, I asked representatives of the meat industry to clearly state if individual plants would be […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Agriculture, said today that the country is paying a high price for the failure of the Government to regulate the meat industry and called for an immediate plan to be put in place to prevent further outbreaks within the sector. Holly said: “For some time I have been […]