News

Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy have issued a joint statement following yesterday’s announcement that they are to step aside as co-leaders of the Social Democrats. The party’s National Executive will meet this evening (Thursday, February 23) to make arrangements for the election of a new leader. Both Catherine and Róisín fully intend to remain active […]

Government has failed to deliver on commitment in Energy Poverty Action Plan Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore will introduce a Bill tomorrow (Tuesday, February 21) proposing new legislation to protect financially vulnerable customers from energy disconnections. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Energy, said: “The Government’s new Energy Poverty Action Plan, published last […]

Whitmore hosts special briefing on how current drugs reimbursement scheme is failing women instead of helping them Women suffering from hyperemesis during pregnancy must not be abandoned by our health service, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore hosted a special briefing in Leinster House this week to highlight how the current reimbursement […]

Government may have grossly overstated home completion numbers for 2022 Figures published today suggest that the Government may be significantly overstating the number of homes completed in 2022, according to Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “There is a huge discrepancy between the 23,751 figure reported by Construction Information Services (CIS) and the almost 30,000 […]

Consumers and businesses continue to struggle while energy companies profiteer from war A targeted energy price cap must be introduced to reduce spiralling energy costs and provide security to businesses and households, according to Social Democrats Energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting as the Social Democrats prepare to bring a Private Members’ Motion […]

Karl Stanley to be appointed substitute councillor for next six months Social Democrats councillor Catherine Stocker is to become the first public representative to assign a temporary substitute to her seat while she takes maternity leave under new legislation aimed at elected members of local authorities. Cllr Stocker, who represents the North Central Area on […]

Average asking rents are now out of reach of most workers, particularly in our cities Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan has repeated his call for increased delivery of cost rental and affordable purchase homes following publication of the latest Daft.ie report. “The most up to date figures on the cost of renting a home […]

Yet the State has made no real effort to pursue religious orders The Government is refusing to expand its mother and baby homes redress scheme for purely financial reasons while making no real effort to pursue religious orders for a contribution, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson […]

Highly vulnerable women are attending emergency departments to beg for Cariban prescriptions from consultants Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government to make Cariban – a medication used for treating hyperemesis during pregnancy – more accessible. “Cariban is used to help reduce symptoms of hyperemesis in pregnancy, which include severe vomiting, fatigue […]

Committee could also create strategies to combat the rise of far-right groups Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has called for the establishment of an emergency cross-party Oireachtas committee on refugee integration in response to recent protests targeting asylum seekers. “There is a complete information vacuum at the moment, which is being filled by misinformation peddled […]