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The revelations in the leaked ‘Paradise Papers’ that AIB’s offshore arm continued to facilitate tax avoidance after it was bailed out by the public highlight the extent of the moral bankruptcy at the heart of the Irish banking system, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy said: “It is galling in the […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on housing quality and building standards Councillor Cian O’Callaghan said: “The failure of Dublin City Council and other local Councils to enforce minimum standards in the private rental sector as exposed in last night’s RTÉ Prime Time should come as no surprise. Local authorities have a very poor track record when it […]

In light of another year of uncontrolled and illegal bonfires across the city and country this Halloween Aengus Ó Maoláin, Social Democrats representative for Castleknock and Blanchardstown has called for new thinking on bonfire regulations around halloween time. Ó Maoláin said: “This year saw yet again an increase in the number of call outs by […]

Social Democrats Political Director Anne-Marie McNally has said she is outraged but not surprised at reports today that maternal health services in Ireland are so sorely lacking in resources that many pregnant people are being denied basic scans in pregnancy that can ensure safe maternal care, healthy pregnancies where possible and allow for parents to […]

The Social Democrats have said white-collar crime reforms announced today by the government are welcome and long-overdue but lack critical detail and continue the fragmented approach to tackling corruption in all its forms. The party’s joint leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “Several of the new measures are welcome and long-overdue, especially the proposed overhaul of […]

Commenting on a European Commission study which shows that Irish third-level students pay the second-highest college fees in Europe, Councillor Gary Gannon, the Social Democrats’ Spokesperson on Education Equality and Access said: “Ireland is clearly at the bottom of the class in Europe when it comes to college fees for undergraduate students. Our undergraduate students are charged […]

The collapse of yet another trial involving a former Anglo Irish Bank executive further damages public confidence in the State’s ability and resolve  to prosecute white collar crime, the Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy said: “It’s not even six months since the trial of Anglo’s former Chief Executive Seán Fitzpatrick […]

Opinion: Catherine Murphy TD We need to talk about Local Property Tax. Not in a headline grabbing way that reduces it to a simple question of how much more you or I may have to pay when the controversial tax is reviewed in 2019. Not in a populist way that pits counties with higher house […]

The findings of a new study which shows major concern amongst clinicians about political interference in the design of hospital services needs to be taken seriously,  Social Democrats representative Niall Ó Tuathail said today. One GP in the Mid-West said in an interview for the Cork study: “You’ve every local politician with a placard saying ‘oh […]

Special measures are needed to help young couples with children who bought apartments during the boom and now find themselves ‘stuck’ in unsuitable accommodation and unable to purchase family-sized homes, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy said: “People, including many young couples, who bought small apartments during the boom, are now […]