News

Those presenting to emergency departments with mental health issues, including children, are left waiting for their conditions to deteriorate, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who’s the party’s mental health spokesperson, said: “Today’s Mental Health Commission report highlights a broken system of emergency mental health care for our most distressed service-users. “Successive […]

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is working backwards when it comes to uniting a fragmented sport, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who’s the party’s sports spokesperson, said: “Not for the first time, the FAI has decided that grassroots organisations should have no voice in the future of Irish football, presenting […]

The dwindling number of properties available within Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits shows that the government’s ongoing reliance on the private rental market is not a sustainable model, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest quarterly ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the […]

The government’s latest Climate Action Plan is not ambitious enough to put Ireland on a corrective course to meet our legally binding emissions reduction targets over the next five years, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “The Climate Action Plan for 2025, which has […]

The failure to proceed to phase two of the Farrelly Commission investigation into the ‘Grace’ case, which would examine allegations of abuse of other residents in her foster family, cannot be defended and must be examined in Oireachtas hearings, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s disability spokesperson, said: […]

We cannot allow skyrocketing property prices to continue locking tens of thousands of people out of homeownership, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest national Residential Property Price Index, published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), recorded an eight per cent increase in […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has welcomed the Minister for Health’s acceptance that a dispensing fee should be covered as part of the delayed free HRT scheme – but has criticised the government’s questionable handling of the issue. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Despite the Minister setting a target today for […]

Expected delays by the government in implementing a living wage will result in people in full-time employment continuing to fall into poverty, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on enterprise and employment, said: “It is deeply disappointing to learn that long awaited plans for a living wage […]

We’re approaching the last chance saloon of reaching our climate targets unless substantive actions are put forward in the 2025 Climate Action Plan, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “The previous publication of the Climate Action Plan only met 29% of the required 51% reduction in overall […]

The Social Democrats will this week propose the setting up of a new State savings scheme to fund the accelerated delivery of affordable homes. Deputy Rory Hearne, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Under our proposal, the government would establish a Homes for Ireland Savings Account, similar to the Livret A model in […]