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Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must intervene to get clear answers to fresh questions and concerns raised today by the Scally Review into the CervicalCheck crisis. “It is alarming to learn today from members of the Scally Review that there may be other women affected by the CervicalCheck […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has said that Minister Naughten’s vague and often contradictory explanations regarding his actions in the NBP tendering process are insufficient and raise even more questions. “The Minister, despite prolific spinning and semantics about his various dinner dates with David McCourt and family, has not defended his flagrant breach of his […]

Students in schools and colleges have been snubbed in Budget 2019, Social Democrats’ Education Access and Equality Spokesman Cllr Gary Gannon said today. “For the second year running, there is a total absence of any Budget funding to help students cope with the rapidly escalating costs of going to third level by reducing fees or […]

“Today’s Budget provides for an extra two weeks of paid parental leave per parent. This is a meagre allocation – and it doesn’t even kick in until November of next year.” Social Democrats Spokesperson on Children, Councillor Jennifer Whitmore, has said the government has done the bare minimum to support working parents in Budget 2019. […]

“There is nothing in this Budget for hard-presser renters who are among the worst hit by the current housing crisis. Instead, landlords have received another tax break.” Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said housing measures in Budget 2019 are  failing hard-pressed renters while profiting landlords and private developers. Deputy Murphy said: There are […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has accused the government of cherry-picking crucial Sláintecare health reforms in Budget 2019.. “It is incredibly disappointing that the Budget has fallen very far short of the funding needed to properly implement the vision set out in Sláintecare for a universal single tier health service where people are treated […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has said that there is increasing evidence that the handling of the tender process for the National Broadband Plan contract has been below best governance standards. “We are dealing with one of the most important state contracts that will ever be awarded and any sniff of impropriety or bad governance […]

The Social Democrats today unveiled the party’s Alternative Budget for 2019, an ambitious and fully-costed plan to help families live decent and affordable lives by driving down daily living costs and investing in public services. “Our Budget presents a vision for a fairer future where all people can live affordable lives without having to constantly […]

Social Democrats Spokeswoman on Children Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has called for a human milk bank to be set up in the Republic of Ireland. “We can’t allow families and babies-in-need to be caught up in any potential political upheaval in the wake of Brexit. The Government needs to take a proactive approach and establish a […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Cian O’Callaghan has called on the government to establish a waste regulator to oversee price controls for bin collections. “At the moment, there is absolutely no transparency in the sector. We don’t know who owns many of the companies or what their profits or losses are. […]