News

The forthcoming budget is an opportunity to prove we have learned the lessons of the Covid-19 and invest in public services, where deficiencies were so exposed during the pandemic, according to Social Democrats co-leaders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy. Our main priorities include: 10,000 affordable and cost-rental homes 10,000 social homes A new affordable model […]

What is the point in releasing a National Development Plan without conducting a screening exercise in advance The National Development Plan is nothing more than a back-of-the-envelope wish list, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The government made history today – the first time an administration has announced a National Development Plan and […]

It is not acceptable for the Minister to keep Oireachtas members in the dark Attempts by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to defer his attendance at the Oireachtas Health Committee, to discuss Sláintecare, until after the budget are not acceptable, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “A crisis has engulfed Sláintecare. There have now […]

There are fundamental problems with Sláintecare that those charged with implementing it view as intractable Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Secretary General of the Department of Health Robert Watt must come to the Health Committee to answer questions about the crisis engulfing Sláintecare, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Yesterday, the chairperson of […]

The decision of both of these eminent people to resign on the same day is significant The announcement that two of the most senior officials, tasked with implementing Sláintecare, have resigned on the same day raises fundamental questions about the progress of this hugely important reform of our health services, according to Social Democrats Health […]

We are a resilient people, but this pandemic has tested us like never before Today marks a new dawn in our fight against covid, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Today marks a new dawn in our fight against covid as we make preparations for what will hopefully be the final unravelling of the […]

The Summer School provides a timely opportunity to discuss the challenges we collectively face and the solutions we can offer A diverse range of expert and interesting guests, discussing some of the biggest challenges we face as a society, will join the Social Democrats’ Summer School this weekend. On the programme, organised by The Left […]

It is extraordinary that €51m has already been spent on this project – before any final decision that it will proceed at the Elm Park site Spending on the new National Maternity Hospital will be examined as part of an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. […]

Has Nphet been consulted about the proposed revision to the guidelines? The government has sacrificed its own public health guidelines in an effort to save Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s political skin, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The government spent weeks in negotiations with the hospitality industry, about the rules that should apply to their […]

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 […]