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The Government must consider all possible measures to vindicate the rights of former staff of The Body Shop after the sudden closure of the company’s Irish branches, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who is the party’s spokesperson on enterprise, trade and employment, said: “It is completely unacceptable for employees of The […]

The final cost of delivering the new National Children’s Hospital is likely to exceed the €2.24 billion projected by the Government and may not be known for years, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who is vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “Confirmation from the Minister for Health today that the […]

A Government proposal to increase penalty points for motorists on bank holiday weekends should not be a substitute for high visibility policing and enhanced enforcement of road traffic legislation, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who is the party’s spokesperson on justice, said: “In response to the worrying rise in road deaths […]

Clarity needed on whether census data on population growth was used when allocating additional funds to local authorities Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to publish the methodology used by the working group that reviewed the model of baseline funding to local authorities from Local […]

Bus Éireann needs to clarify the numbers affected by driver shortages and give a timeline for resolution of the issue  The Social Democrats have called on Bus Éireann and the Department of Education to immediately outline what steps will be taken to address serious shortcomings in the operation of the School Transport Scheme. Jennifer Whitmore, […]

Minister for Health unable to provide details of new completion date or an estimate of final costs for troubled development The Minister for Health’s inability to provide a revised completion date or estimate of final costs for the new National Children’s Hospital shows that the Government has lost control of the project, according to Social […]

More than a dozen issues of serious concern are outlined in Inland Fisheries Ireland’s annual report and financial statements for 2021 Inland Fisheries Ireland must address serious issues of concern when representatives from the State body appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next week, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who […]

How the Data Protection Commission goes about its tasks is already opaque Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has criticised a Government amendment to a Justice Bill that would create confidential processes for data protection investigations. “I share the concerns expressed today by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) in relation to the amendment proposed […]

The worst thing, for RTÉ and its staff, would be for a drip-feed of information to characterise the inquiry into this debacle Dee Forbes’ resignation statement raises further serious questions, and it is important she attends the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday to answer them, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who […]

Today’s bombshell revelations involve a serious breach of trust Senior RTÉ management must appear before the Public Accounts Committee before the summer recess to explain its secret payments to Ryan Tubridy, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. Deputy Murphy, who is vice-chair of the PAC, has written to the PAC to request the appearance […]