News

The latest report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) paints a bleak picture for first-time buyers, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The cost of buying a home in Ireland has increased by 7.3 per cent in the 12 months to March 2024. The median […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the urgent regulation of nicotine pouches and for an analysis of the extent of their use by those under the under the age of 18. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “These pouches come in the form of small bags and contain highly […]

The Government must put a pause on data centres until a strategic analysis of their impact on energy demand is carried out, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “A briefing document provided to new Enterprise Minister Peter Burke reveals that the State’s renewable energy […]

Parents and pupils must be reassured that they will not face extra costs due to a Department of Education cut to the annual grant for primary schools, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “Just one year into a free schoolbooks scheme, which was announced […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has questioned why the Health Minister’s review of urgent and emergency care capacity in the mid-west is only happening now. “This latest development has all the signs of a political stunt. “A second ED has been needed in the mid-west for years. Why has the Minister only started listening […]

Fencing off the city to prevent homeless asylum seekers from setting up tents is not a sustainable solution to the immigration accommodation crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on integration, said: “Just hours after removing more than 100 tents from along the banks of the Grand […]

The Government’s ham-fisted handling of the immigration accommodation crisis is making a bad situation in Dublin even worse, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on integration, said: “Just days after the Taoiseach pledged to end the sad spectacle of tents pitched on the streets of our capital, […]

The Taoiseach must demand an emergency European Council meeting at which sanctions on Israel are on the agenda, according to Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Israel is pursuing a policy of annihilation and mass destruction in Gaza. Its outrageous ground invasion of Rafah, and the closure of the border crossing which facilitates the […]

Sinéad Gibney, the Social Democrats’ Dublin candidate in the European Elections, believes that the new taskforce announced for the capital must take its lead from other European cities that have got it right. “The Government’s belated recognition that Dublin needs a dedicated taskforce must be matched with decisive action to address the many issues facing […]

Hugo will build on the excellent work of our outgoing councillor David Quinn, says Holly Cairns The Social Democrats have selected law student Hugo Mills as their Dún Laoghaire candidate in the local elections. Speaking after his selection, Hugo said: “As somebody who has always been interested in politics, and first started campaigning back in […]