News

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has backed a call by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for a publicly accessible database to identify damaged or dangerous second-hand vehicles. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s transport spokesperson, said: “In 2024, the CCPC received 3,192 contacts to its national consumer helpline related to second-hand cars. Of […]

Today’s launch of the HSE’s Health app is just one small step in Ireland’s painfully slow implementation of a modern digital health strategy, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “The arrival of the new HSE app, while welcome, is a reminder of how far […]

The scandal surrounding the National Gallery’s €120,000-plus scanner is shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s arts spokesperson, said: “It’s sadly no longer a surprise to hear another huge sum of money has been wasted by a State organisation – this time, €120,000 on a […]

The Social Democrats have today announced a strategy to tackle violence in Dublin city. Gary Gannon TD, who represents Dublin Central and is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “As violence increases on our streets, this government seems to see crime as something to be responded to after the fact. “This approach has been a demonstrable […]

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 latest Daft.ie report confirms that rents in Ireland are more unaffordable and unsustainable than ever, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Today’s figures show that rents are now beyond any reasonable level. Last year, advertised rents rose by an average of 5.7 per cent, […]

Greyhound racing must be defunded and ultimately banned during the lifetime of this government, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “For years, the Social Democrats have been calling for the phasing out of annual State funding to the greyhound industry, which was allocated almost […]

This Orwellian rubbish is beneath contempt The government is attempting to rewrite Dáil rules for the benefit of Lowry Independents, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The submission by the government, on Dáil reform, is outrageous. They want to afford Lowry Independents, who are government backbench TDs, speaking slots on […]

Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney has called on the Government to urgently outline what specific changes are being proposed to the Triple Lock arrangement as part of the upcoming Defence Bill. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on defence, said: “The Triple Lock is an integral part of Ireland’s longstanding tradition of neutrality. It […]

Will the government allow people be charged exorbitant rents to live in glorified sheds? This government’s answer to the housing crisis is to move generation stuck at home from their parents’ box room to a shed in the back garden, according to Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. “It is reported today that the government […]