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The Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has described as ‘jaw-dropping’ reports today about the Taoiseach’s lead role in a planned major public relations campaign around Garda crime statistics. The Kildare North TD was reacting to a report on RTÉ’s This Week programme that the Taoiseach last year suggested a PR campaign in relation to […]

The Social Democrats have expressed serious concern that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s meddling in the planning process for a wind farm at the behest of Donald Trump left no trace in official planning files. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “The Taoiseach has now changed his story about what actions he took after he was […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has expressed huge disappointment over the failure of Minister Finian McGrath TD to support people with disabilities by ensuring that they have the right to bring complaints to an important UN body. Deputy Shortall said the Minister had betrayed Ireland’s 640,000 people with disabilities who now have no way […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has expressed surprise and concern over reports today that the Taoiseach had made representations on behalf of Trump to Clare County Council in relation to a planning issue. Deputy Murphy said: “The Taoiseach told an apparently folksy tale to journalists in Washington today about how he had rang Clare County […]

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit Ireland is a betrayal of Irish values, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The Taoiseach‘s decision to invite President Trump to Ireland is a betrayal of the values that Irish people hold dear. President Trump is an aggressive […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Education Equality and Access, Councillor Gary Gannon, has criticised the heavy-handed approach of private security at Trinity College Dublin to students protesting against proposals to introduce new fees for repeat examinations. Councillor Gannon said: “Students who have turned out in force to Take Back Trinity deserve to have their voices heard, […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said the decision by Ireland’s largest waste company Panda to introduce charges for recycling is a significant retrograde step which will have far reaching consequences for Ireland’s overall environmental policy. Deputy Murphy said it was likely that other waste providers would follow Panda in charging for recycling waste […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has accused the government of betraying people with disabilities by refusing to give them the right to bring complaints to an important UN body. Deputy Shortall was commenting after it emerged from an official source that the government does not intend for the foreseeable future to ratify a crucial […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on Minister of State Finian McGrath to clarify when the government will ratify a crucial protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (UNCPRD). Deputy Shortall said: “The ratification of the UNCPRD is not fully complete until the government also ratifies the optional […]

On International Women’s Day, the co-leaders of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD and Catherine Murphy TD, have raised the need for more women to be involved in politics and urged people to support the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. Deputy Shortall said: “International Women’s Day is an important occasion to celebrate women’s many […]