News

As Dublin celebrates with the annual Pride Parade, the Social Democrats today call on the government to show much greater urgency in driving reforms to improve the human rights of LGBTI people in Ireland. The party’s co-leaders Róisín Shortall TD and Catherine Murphy TD said it was disappointing, 25 years after homosexuality was decriminalised, that […]

A public meeting organised and hosted by Social Democrats city Councillor Gary Gannon will explore the idea of a ‘Site of Conscience’ at the former Seán McDermott Street Magdalene Laundry, which risks being sold by Dublin City Council and turned into a hotel. The meeting will take place at 7pm. tomorrow, Thursday 28th June, in […]

The Social Democrats have congratulated the incoming Garda Commissioner on his appointment – but cautioned that an entirely new senior management team must also be recruited to lead reforms to address deep-rooted cultural problems within the force. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “I congratulate Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris on his appointment at […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on the government to summon US embassy representatives to relay to the Trump administration Ireland’s condemnation of its policy of forcibly taking children from their immigrant parents. Deputy Shortall said: “It has been deeply disturbing to see the reports and footage emanating from the US in the […]

Today’s Summer Economic Statement is another squandered opportunity by the government to shore up our tax base and invest now to tackle the enormous pressures facing our economy and society, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said diverting some corporation tax into a ‘rainy day fund’ at a time of […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called for a renewed commitment to delivering tangible services to protect and empower members of Ireland’s LGBTQ community. Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, Deputy Shortall paid tribute to campaigners including Senator Norris, former President Mary Robinson and former Minister for Justice Maura Geoghegan Quinn who […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has once again highlighted the significant issues in relation to how waste is handled in this country. In advance of tonight’s RTÉ investigates programme on the waste industry and illegal dumping in Ireland, Catherine Murphy said this issue has been brewing for some years now and with mooted changes to […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has accused the government of callous inertia over Sláintecare health reforms, as new figures show that record numbers of people are on waiting lists for medical treatment. Deputy Shortall was commenting as the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show that more than 707,000 people are on […]

The Social Democrats have welcomed the passage tonight through the Dáil of our Bill to extend unpaid parental leave for working parents. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 allows parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected. This is an increase on […]

Social Democrats from across the Fingal County Council area have today demanded that the next mayor of the county ends the outright ban on political meetings in community centres. Under current Fingal County Council policy, community centres may not be used for political meetings. The outgoing mayor, Labour’s Cllr Mary McCamley shut down a debate […]