News

Ordinary buyers cannot compete with investors who have millions or even billions to spend The asking price of a four-bed semi in Rathmines increasing by nearly 80pc in a week suggests sky-high rents are now distorting the entire housing market, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “This house in Rathmines – which will […]

This sector has been continually neglected by the government Today’s large protest by fishers from around country highlights the frustration and fear felt by coastal communities, according to Social Democrats Agriculture, Food and the Marine Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “This sector has been continually neglected by the government. Any marginal engagement was too little too late. In response […]

Their first instinct was to make life more difficult for home buyers – rather than check their obligations under GDPR Estate agents who sought their customers personal data, in breach of their GDPR obligations, should apologise to their customers, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was responding after the Data Protection […]

The government has said it will not oppose our motion. They must go further – and actively support it. The Tánaiste should immediately clarify remarks he made in which he suggested Holles Street was a Catholic-ethos hospital, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Leo Varadkar said he worked at the national maternity hospital at […]

Leo Varadkar’s pledge to construct 40,000 homes per year not credible The State’s over-reliance on the private market to solve the housing crisis means nearly one-third of new homes are now bought by institutions, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “According to the Social Justice Ireland, the proportion of newly built homes bought […]

Mr Watt’s intervention has ensured this debacle has gone from tragedy to farce The Department of Health is refusing to release details of a review into the new Children’s Hospital to the PAC, according to Social Democrats co-leader, and vice-chair of the PAC, Catherine Murphy. “A comprehensive review of this project,  by the National Paediatric […]

When is this government going to treat women with the respect they deserve The Minister for Health must immediately clarify why restrictions on partners at maternity hospitals are still in place, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “It is now more than five weeks since Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said there was no […]

Supports offered by the government should not depend on your proximity to Leinster House The mica scandal is another grim legacy of boom era shoddy construction standards, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Ordinary people have again been left to pick up the pieces of lax government regulations and building standards – quite […]

We can only assume efforts to fast-track this rezoning are an attempt to push it through ahead of the SHD legislation lapsing at the end of the year The rezoning of a 106-acre site in Finglas should be deferred until next year when the new 2022-2028 development plan will be published, according to Social Democrats Councillor […]

We cannot rely on the Catholic Church to voluntarily relinquish control of the education system. The government is paying lip-service to the idea of a fully inclusive education system, according Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon was responding to a report today noting the government’s plan to provide 400 multi-denominational primary schools by […]