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The Social Democrats will introduce a landmark Bill to provide for the suspension of child guardianship rights where a parent is convicted of the murder or manslaughter of the other parent. The Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025 would allow for an interim suspension of guardianship rights immediately on conviction, with exceptions allowed for in […]

It is unacceptable that legislative loopholes are allowing abusers to retraumatise their victims, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Speaking on the claims by Sonas Housing, Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “It’s a gross miscarriage of justice that perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence can access details on the whereabouts of their […]

New figures highlighting the appalling surge in domestic abuse reports to gardaí show that an immediate and comprehensive response is needed to tackle the issue, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: ‘’Newly released figures show that the number of emergency calls to gardaí reporting domestic […]

The new government must prioritise the full implementation of the third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore made her comments after new figures revealed a 20 per cent rise over the last two years in the number of domestic violence incidents reported to gardaí. […]

The Social Democrats have today launched their policy aimed at tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. The policy was launched by Patricia Stephenson, the party’s candidate for Carlow-Kilkenny, and Catherine Murphy, Social Democrats justice spokesperson. The policy document outlines how, in government, the party would establish a DSGBV Commissioner, with appropriate resources and […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has backed calls for a new law that would suspend the parental rights of those found guilty of domestic homicide. Deputy Cairns made her comments after James Kilroy received a life sentence today for the brutal murder of his wife Valerie French in June 2019. “My deepest sympathies go to […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has given a guarded welcome to the Government’s commitment to review the system in place for granting taxi licences to drivers. “In the Dáil today, my party proposed a range of measures to tackle the epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in this country. “We called on the Government […]

The weekend revelations concerning the abuse of young women players represent the lowest point in the history of scandals involving the Football Association of Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on sport, said: “It was deeply unsettling to watch the RTÉ Investigates/Sunday Independent documentary as it […]

The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ motion on Wednesday, July 10, calling on the Government to match its words with action on adopting a zero tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Party leader Holly Cairns said: “Just last night, a harrowing RTÉ Investigates documentary revealed details of historic abuse allegations made by […]