News

This crisis must be a wakeup call. We need policies that will ensure our food sovereignty.     We are facing a serious crisis later in this year if farmers cannot access fertiliser, according to Social Democrats Agriculture Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “I met with local representatives of the Irish Farmers’ Association and the Irish Cattle and Sheep […]

The State turned a blind eye to this abuse for decades. It is now time to shine a light on this dark practice. The State turned a blind eye to illegal adoptions for decades and must now establish an inquiry to finally determine the extent of this travesty, according to Social Democrats Social Justice Spokesperson […]

This shameful lack of spaces means an average of eight women are turned away from refuges every day in Ireland The government must immediately act on its belated commitment to significantly increase the number of refuge spaces, according to Social Democrats Social Justice Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “In an interview with Morning Ireland this morning, Justice […]

It is a shocking indictment of the State’s treatment of disabled people that three transport support schemes are effectively closed Personal transport supports for people with disabilities are now virtually non-existent, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, said: “Today it was reported that […]

The Minister has yet to appoint an independent expert, finalise terms of reference or provide a time-frame for the review The failure of the Minister for Health to appoint an independent expert to review the State’s abortion law is deeply concerning, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “Under section 7 of the Health (Regulation […]

My Bill would bring some long overdue reform to local politics If we want to increase the number of women in politics then we must introduce maternity leave for councillors on local authorities as an important first step, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns was speaking as she launched a Bill that […]

This development will have an immediate negative impact on the ecosystem of our coast The decision of the Court of Appeal to allow large trawlers fish in Ireland’s inshore waters is deeply disappointing and hugely worrying, according to Social Democrats Fisheries Spokesperson Holly Cairns. A Department of the Marine Policy Directive, which banned large trawlers […]

The government must outline how it will remove barriers faced by people with disabilities  The stark findings of a new ESRI report on the employment prospects of people with disabilities are shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who sits on the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, said: “The […]

At every step, and every stage, women and pregnant people have been ignored The government must immediately publish a roadmap for the reopening of maternity services, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “I welcome the publication of the reopening plan for society and the economy, but am struck by a glaring omission. Nowhere, in […]

The Minister must explain why he is taking the unprecedented step of judicially reviewing a case that he actually won. Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue must explain why he is attempting to set aside parts of a conviction imposed on one of his officials for animal neglect and animal welfare breaches, according to Social Democrats Agriculture […]