News

The Social Democrats do not accept that there is any precedent for this undemocratic power grab by any incoming government Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín should end the charade of Regional Independent TDs masquerading as members of the Opposition by leaving their technical group so its numbers fall below the threshold for speaking rights, according to […]

The new government must urgently act to halt the worrying use of nicotine pouches by secondary school students, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. “It has been reported today that an increasing number of schools have been sending notices to parents to highlight the ongoing use of these products in classrooms. This follows calls […]

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has given credence to outrageous slurs, made by the Israeli ambassador, by endorsing a disputed IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s endorsement of a disputed IHRA definition of anti-Semitism has given the Israeli ambassador carte blanche to describe President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Simon Harris as anti-Semitic, according to Social […]

It is an indictment of the way this government intends to operate that a political stroke is its very first act  Micheál Martin and Simon Harris must clarify if they are happy for Regional Independent TDs to hijack Dáil speaking time set aside to allow the Opposition hold government to account, according to Social Democrats […]

The draft programme for government will bring little comfort to the locked-out generation struggling to buy or rent a home in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who represents Dublin North-West, said: “This document, which is just a crude collation of Fianna Fail’s and Fine Gael’s election manifestos, is a worrying […]

The draft programme for government lacks ambition and comprises tinkering around the edges with more failed FF and FG policy  The next government will be a conservative coalition which will bring the country backwards not forwards, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was commenting following publication of the draft programme for […]

The incoming government has a mountain to climb if it is to achieve the original objective of retrofitting half a million homes to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) standard by 2030, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate action, said: “While the Sustainable Energy Authority of […]

Unacceptable delays to three major regeneration projects in the Dublin south city area are affecting remaining residents’ quality of life and leading to the creation of disjointed communities, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who represents Dublin South-Central, said: “The regeneration of St Teresa’s Gardens, Dolphin House and Emmet Road was supposed […]

The incoming government should follow Spain’s lead by bringing forward tough measures to tackle some of the root causes of the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who represents Dublin North-West, said: “While some of the Spanish prime minister’s radical proposals are specific to Spain – such as punitive tax […]

The next government must not lose focus on Ireland’s climate action responsibilities, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate action, said: “According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 was the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial times. In fact, […]