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Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has warmly welcomed the Government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine but called for further pressure on Israel to end the carnage in Gaza. “The Social Democrats have long called for the Government to match its strong words of condemnation with action – and this is a historic move […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leadership. “Charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant include causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war – including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies – and […]

Unfair exclusion of Ireland South candidate Susan Doyle from RTÉ debates puts her at a huge disadvantage to her competitors Two opinion polls in the past week have highlighted the unfairness of the exclusion of Social Democrats candidates by RTÉ from their televised European election debates, according to Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns. “A […]

The EU’s collective response to the massacre in Gaza has been weak and inhumane. If EU values stand for anything, that must change The Taoiseach must request an urgent European Council meeting, at which sanctions on Israel are imposed, if Israel proceeds with a ground invasion in Rafah, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. […]

“I strongly reject accusations of discrimination made by the Israeli ambassador against the Social Democrats. “If the Ambassador had contacted the party before making her remarks, she would have been told that Ms Degani was deselected after a number of failed attempts to resolve issues. Those efforts extended to hiring an external mediator as well […]

Adults with eating disorders have been abandoned by the Government, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “There are just three public hospital beds in the country for the treatment of eating disorders in adults – all of them in St Vincent’s in Dublin. This is despite a Government commitment, when Simon Harris was Minister […]

The intimidation and harassment of politicians by so-called protesters must be met with a robust policing response, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The alarming scenes we witnessed last night outside the home of Minister Roderic O’Gorman must not be allowed to continue. “It is concerning that no apparent action was taken by gardaí […]

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 […]

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 […]