News

The Social Democrats have warmly welcomed the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment to repeal the Constitutional ban on abortion and legislate for termination without restriction up to 12 weeks. Party co-leader Catherine Murphy TD, who is a member of the committee, said: “The Committee’s recommendations are a very significant and […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the barrister-led inquiry into why crucial emails were not sent by the Department of Justice to the Charleton Tribunal must be comprehensive and must provide straight answers to the many outstanding questions. Deputy Shortall said: “I welcome the appointment tonight of senior counsel Michael Collins to lead […]

The Social Democrats have said today’s agreement between the UK and the EU on the first phase of Brexit negotiations is a positive start to the process of negotiations which must lead to a fair deal for the entire island of Ireland. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “Today’s agreement allows us to progress […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed the government’s move to raise the compulsory retirement age for public sector workers to 70 – but called for the same flexibility to also apply to private sector employees. Deputy Shortall said: “Many people in their late sixties are valuable members of the workforce, whether they work […]

Plans by Dublin City Council to sell the last remaining Magdalene Laundry site to an international hotel chain show utter disregard for the suffering of women who deserve to be properly commemorated by the State, Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon has said. Councillor Gannon said the site of the former convent on Sean McDermott Street […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Education Equality and Access, Gary Gannon, has said clear steps must be taken to end our two-tier education system which means privately educated young people have greater access to college. Commenting on the publication today of The Irish Times league tables, Councillor Gannon said: “It’s no surprise to see that fee-paying […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has called for a raft of targeted measures to help people who are increasingly forced to share rental accommodation because of rising costs and the lack of affordable homes to buy and rent. Deputy Murphy said: “Today’s report from Savills Ireland shows that a fifth of the population nationwide […]

It is entirely unacceptable that no senior Garda management are to be held to account for the widespread abuse of the penalty point system and the falsification of breath tests, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said. Deputy Shortall’s comments follow the publication today of a GSOC report which found superintendents and inspectors breached […]

Social Democrats co-leader, Catherine Murphy TD., today introduces the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill, 2017 to the Dáil which would tilt the balance in favour of consumers by banning many of the sneaky charges associated with gift vouchers. The Bill would ensure gift vouchers are valid for at least five years, would ban charges for […]

The independent Toland Review group which found the Department of Justice to be closed and secretive should be invited back to conduct an urgent progress update on its reform recommendations, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The events of the past few days have exposed major problems once again […]