News

Tinkering around the edges will do little to help those struggling to survive in the long-term The government’s response to the cost-of-living crisis is not sufficiently targeted at those who need help the most, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “The vast bulk of the funding announced today is for a blanket €200 electricity […]

The government has yet to provide a single targeted relief to people who are struggling to survive Patronising comments by Junior Minister Seán Fleming on the cost-of-living crisis are indicative of a government that is out of touch and lacking in empathy, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “Advice from Junior Minister Seán Fleming, […]

Instead of a myopic focus on deficit reduction, the government must focus on deficits in infrastructure The EU Fiscal rules are an anachronistic relic from an austerity era and must be reformed if Ireland’s economy is to rebound as we emerge from the pandemic, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The Summer Economic […]

The pandemic has decimated the aviation sector, but supports that could have been put in place to cushion the blow have not been implemented. Stobart Air ceasing operations is a devastating blow to workers and the regions it serviced, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. “The announcement by Stobart Air, that it has ceased […]

These payments are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people whose jobs were a casualty of the pandemic The government has reneged on a promise there would be no cliff edge when it came to the withdrawal of the PUP, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The government repeatedly promised there would be […]

Focused effort needed to ensure a company is found to replace Teva in the Baldoyle Industrial Estate  The closure of Teva Pharmaceuticals, with the loss of 100 jobs, in Baldoyle is the second major jobs blow to the area in less than five months, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. “Sudocream has been produced […]

Any prospect of the proposed salary increase being backdated should also be discounted immediately The incoming permanent Secretary General of the Department of Health, Robert Watt, should permanently waive the €81,000 pay increase that accompanies his new job, according to Social Democrats co-leader, and PAC Vice Chair, Catherine Murphy. “I welcome the decision of Mr […]

The current state of Irish banking is a consumer nightmare Competition in the Irish banking market will soon be almost non-existent, according to Social Democrats co-leader, and Finance Spokesperson, Róisín Shortall. “KBC has today confirmed its intention to quit the Irish market. This news will be a source of great alarm to both its staff […]

Our economic recovery must not be a two-tier recovery, in which those most impacted by the pandemic are left behind.  Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall has said the finding of the Stability Programme Update – that Ireland’s economic recovery is contingent on the successful rollout of the vaccination programme – is a reminder that vaccines […]

Social Democrats co-leader, and PAC Vice Chairperson, Catherine Murphy TD has queried whether the imminent appointment of Robert Watt, as permanent Secretary General of the Department of Health on a salary of €292,000, was always a fait accompli. “Taoiseach Micheál Martin personally asked Mr Watt to transfer from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform […]