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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

Speaking on foot of the publication on the Progress Report of the Scally Inquiry, co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD has expressed her disappointment with the slow progress of the report and the delays experienced by many of the women affected by the scandal when seeking their medical records. “The most significant finding […]

A Social Democrats’ private members bill to increase to six months the amount of unpaid parental leave available to working parents goes to final stage in the Dáil tomorrow, Wednesday 13th June. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 aims to help working families enjoy better work-life balance by permitting parents to spend more time caring […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on the government to dismantle the discriminatory system of direct provision, saying today’s constitutional ruling should be the final nail in its coffin. Deputy Shortall said: “Today’s Court of Appeal ruling recognises that a child with Irish citizenship living in direct provision is entitled to child benefit […]

Despite the growing issue of youth crime, figures released to Róisín Shortall TD have revealed that powers granted to the gardaí to tackle the problem are not being used. Since their introduction in 2008 the number of Behaviour Warnings issued by the Gardaí has fallen by 85%. Deputy Shortall explained: “When a child or young […]