News

The derisory delivery of affordable homes shows that the Minister for Housing is hopelessly out of his depth and incapable of meeting the Government’s own targets, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The Quarter 3 Affordable Housing Report highlights exceptionally poor delivery and targets that […]

The agreement reached at COP28 is wholly inadequate and leaves the world on a collision course with catastrophic climate breakdown, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: “While the consensus reached at the summit in Dubai has been described as historic by Environment […]

Today’s report by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) provides further evidence that rent caps are being widely breached, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “According to the Rental Sector Survey Report, median rent has increased nationally by €300 and is now €1,300 compared to the […]

The Government must immediately reinstate the no-fault eviction ban to stem the rising tide of homelessness, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “This year, at least 13,000 people – almost 4,000 of them children – will spend Christmas in emergency homeless accommodation. The latest shameful […]

The Government continues to be in denial about the impact of health service underfunding on patient care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Reports in the media today of Paschal Donohoe’s trenchant criticisms of financial management at the Health Department and the HSE are further evidence that the Government deliberately underfunded the health service […]

The Government’s Green Paper on disability payment reforms would, in practice, further marginalise disabled people and should be scrapped, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “Although couched in language of care, this proposal from the Minister for Social Protection would demonise people with disabilities […]

The Dáil will tomorrow debate a bill from Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan which aims to put a stop to mass evictions. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “My Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 is about protecting people from mass evictions. Nobody who pays their rent on time should live in constant fear […]

Today’s motion on immigration by the Rural Independent Group has been branded a disgrace by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The Rural Independents should be ashamed of themselves for bringing this despicable motion before the Dáil, which is nothing more than a series of dog whistles. “In doing so, they are pandering to the far-right, […]

Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has accepted an offer from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore to pair for tomorrow’s no confidence Dáil vote, meaning he will now not have to return home from COP28 in Dubai. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: “I am deeply concerned at some of the […]

Cutting the grant for residential solar panels from January will completely undermine the Government’s Climate Action Plan, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: “This week, the Taoiseach is attending COP28 in Dubai where he has talked about Ireland’s need to reduce greenhouse […]