News

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has welcomed the Taoiseach’s response to her in the Dáil that there will be a three-month extension of a temporary payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid. “It is simply unconscionable that this cohort of workers, who have been unable to resume their employment due to ongoing Covid symptoms, were […]

A multi-layered response is required to tackle knife crime across the country, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who is the party’s spokesperson on justice, said: “Figures supplied to me through a parliamentary question give rise to serious concerns. “According to the Department of Justice, more than 18,000 knives have been seized […]

The harrowing RTÉ Investigates programme into our abortion services is further evidence of the urgent need to reform the law, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The RTÉ Investigates programme into our abortion services was difficult to watch. Six years after the Repeal vote, we are still failing women who are being forced to […]

The latest Locked Out of the Market report from the Simon Community is showing the dire consequences of the Government’s overreliance on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) system, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Only 38 homes in the entire country are now falling […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon its controversial Green Paper proposals on overhauling the system for disability payments. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “The proposals in Minister Humphreys’ Green Paper were ill-judged and highly insulting to disabled people. “It should therefore come as little […]

The Social Democrats have selected a candidate for the European Elections in Ireland South – the first time the party will contest an election in that constituency. At a selection convention today, April 10, Cork-based solicitor Susan Doyle was selected by the party as their candidate. Speaking after her selection this evening, Susan said: “I […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the outcome of a high-profile climate case taken against Switzerland in the European Court of Human Rights – a legal action that had been opposed by the Irish Government. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: “In a landmark decision, the ECHR has […]

The Taoiseach-in-waiting has political spin in spades without any discernible plan to tackle the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Fine Gael’s new leader has stated that he wants to build 250,000 homes over the next five years, equating to 50,000 homes […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns met with a group of concerned north Dublin residents this weekend to see first-hand the devastation caused by ongoing coastal erosion in their area. The meeting took place on Portrane Beach, where coastal erosion has caused extensive damage to the dunes system and is posing a serious threat to several […]

Making Dublin city centre safer will require a multi-agency approach and not just a policing solution, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is a TD for Dublin Central, said: “In a newspaper interview published today, Dublin City Council’s chief executive Richard Shakespeare belatedly offers his views on last November’s riots and […]