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Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has expressed concern at the steady rise in the number of childcare workers migrating to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. In a reply to a parliamentary question from Deputy Whitmore, the Minister for Social Protection revealed that the number of childcare workers availing of PUP has risen from […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government not to dissolve the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to allow for a full investigation into the deletion of recordings of survivors’ testimonies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The commission is due to be dissolved on February […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called on the Minister for Housing to correct the Dáil record following misleading statements in relation to standards in homeless hostels. Cian O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson for Housing, said: “In the Dáil last Thursday, the Minister for Housing stated that the National Quality Standards Framework applies to […]

The Government must commit to a just transition climate change model to ensure that low-income families are not plunged deeper into fuel poverty, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Energy poverty remains a huge problem in […]

Speaking after today’s Health Committee session on Covid-19 in nursing homes, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, expressed her serious concern and disappointment that so little has changed since the first wave of the pandemic. Deputy Shortall commented: “It is shocking that we are now seeing a second tragic wave of Covid-19 in […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed today’s news that the European Medicines Agency has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine for authorisation in the EU. Deputy Shortall commented: “Today’s news that the EMA has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine will come as a relief, especially to older people. “It is regrettable that, at this […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has welcomed confirmation that the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is to immediately release all captured hares back into the wild. Deputy Whitmore had raised concerns after the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, conceded recently that some hares may have […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD today described the two-tier system of emergency accommodation for homeless people as completely unacceptable. Commenting, Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Brendan Kenny of Dublin City Council confirmed at today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Housing Committee that the National Quality and Standards Framework for homeless service providers is not being applied […]

The Oireachtas Housing Committee learnt today that homeless deaths in Dublin increased by 61% in 2020. In total, 79 people who were homeless in Dublin died in 2020, according to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive. This compares to 49 in 2019 and 47 in 2018. Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said: “It is tragic […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has expressed frustration after the Minister for Housing was again unable to provide clear answers as to why homeless people are still being turned away from emergency accommodation. Speaking after tackling Minister O’Brien on the issue in the Dáil today, Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, commented: “Minister […]