News

There can be no going back to old working practises The government must introduce legislation that gives workers a legal right to work remotely – not merely the right to request flexible working arrangements, according to Social Democrats Enterprise Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “The pandemic has been hugely difficult for people right across society – but […]

We have navigated our way through the maze of this pandemic using public health advice – and that advice has now identified an exit The removal of almost all covid restrictions is a historic moment in our battle against covid, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Covid has consumed all of our lives […]

The government must urgently introduce a tax on vacant buildings New figures confirming there are more than 100,000 vacant and derelict homes across the country are further evidence the government’s housing policy is failing, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was commenting after GeoDirectory published new figures which revealed 90,158 dwellings […]

The issue of a subsidy for antigen tests must urgently be revisited The government must publish a long-term strategy on how it plans to manage the pandemic throughout the year, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “We are now in the third year, and fourth wave, of covid but no long-term strategy to […]

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 […]

We need to provide students with more choice than just the traditional Leaving Cert Education Minister Norma Foley must urgently make a decision on the format of this year’s state examinations and immediately publish a report from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) on permanent reform of the Leaving Cert, according to Social […]

By contrast, a 12-hour walk-in clinic is operating in Cork  The HSE must explain why there are no walk-in clinics for boosters for over 40s anywhere in Co. Dublin today, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “There are no walk-in clinics for boosters for over 40s operating anywhere in Co. Dublin today. The […]

This level of rental increase is immiserating ordinary workers New figures from the RTB show that the government has abjectly failed to constrain runaway rents, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Rents rose by 8.3pc in the third quarter of the year – the highest rate of rental increase since 2017. In Dublin, […]

The government must stop dodging this question and tell us if they have a plan Clarity is required on when covid certs will be updated to include booster doses as some EU countries have announced certs with just two doses will no longer be valid after nine months, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín […]

Ordinary workers can no longer aspire to own their own home New figures from the CSO show that house prices are spiralling out of the reach of ordinary workers, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “House prices in October increased by 13.5pc – the highest rate of increase in six years. This is […]