News

It appears to be government policy to scapegoat international protection applicants for their own failures and capitulate to anti-immigrant protestors rather than stand up for truth and justice The Taoiseach must clarify comments he made to the Sunday Times in which he incorrectly claimed that homeless numbers are impacted by people coming to this country […]

There must be a reckoning for the political system, which failed to respond to an obvious crisis in the midwest, and allowed the population there to be put at risk There must be accountability, at political and hospital management level, for the circumstances at University Hospital Limerick that led to the tragic death of Aoife […]

Welcoming An Bord Pleanála’s decision to refuse planning permission for an apartment scheme at the former Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has repeated her call for a sensitive excavation of the grounds of the estate, which is widely believed to be a children’s burial ground. “The latest refusal […]

It is shameful that 20 people under the age of 65 will remain in nursing homes this year due to a €5 million HSE funding shortfall, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “In an update on his 2021 ‘Wasted Lives’ report, Ombudsman Ger Deering […]

The impunity to commit daily war crimes, that the Israeli government enjoys, is merely emboldening it to commit further atrocities. There is in inherent contradiction in the Irish government co-sponsoring a UN resolution which calls on all States to end trade with illegal Israeli settlements – while it refuses to do that at home, according […]

While it’s clear we need to increase housing delivery, it’s also vital that we maximise the use of existing properties, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The annual report into the performance of local authorities published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) paints […]

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that rising house prices are locking a generation out of homeownership, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The price of a home has increased by 9.6 per cent in just one year. “The median price for […]

The latest report on housing from the Central Bank has shown up the empty promises of this Government as we head into a general election, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Both Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister Darragh O’Brien repeatedly claim that 40,000 new […]

A decision to reduce ambulance services in Cork and Kerry will put lives at risk, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is a TD for Cork South-West, said: “Without any prior consultation with staff, senior management of the National Ambulance Service have announced their intention to reduce ambulance cover in Cork […]

Government party differences over what measures are needed to discourage vulture funds from bulk buying homes have been described as an unwelcome distraction from the real issues by Rory Hearne, the Social Democrats’ general election candidate in Dublin North-West. Dr Hearne, who is a lecturer, author and housing campaigner, said: “What we heard from a […]