News

The Government must stop dithering and make a decision to extend the Basic Income for the Arts scheme before the current pilot runs out, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who’s the party’s Arts spokesperson, said: “When I queried the Arts Minister on his plans for a successor scheme to the pilot […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice TD has called on the Minister for Health to publish the long-awaited sexual health strategy for Ireland. Deputy Rice, who raised this issue in the Dáil today, said: “Ireland currently has no sexual health strategy. We have been without a comprehensive plan or vision for sexual health services since […]

The government must act to insulate consumers from future energy price increases, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Energy prices in Ireland are the second highest in the EU – and they are continuing to climb. “Last week, Airtricity announced it was hiking its prices […]

There’s no time to waste when it comes to addressing appalling conditions in our prison system, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “The conditions described in the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) report are horrendous – some prisoners are forced to sleep on floors and […]

The government is wrong to postpone the introduction of a short-term letting register, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The government is wrong to further delay crucial airbnb regulation which could see twelve thousand homes move from the short-term to the long-term rental market. “The housing crisis […]

The government must put pressure on financial institutions and vulture funds to pass on an anticipated interest rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) to mortgage holders, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s finance spokesperson, said: “The ECB is expected to announce a sixth interest rate […]

It is unacceptable that legislative loopholes are allowing abusers to retraumatise their victims, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Speaking on the claims by Sonas Housing, Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “It’s a gross miscarriage of justice that perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence can access details on the whereabouts of their […]

The Taoiseach must keep his promise to correct employment and governance structures for School Completion Programme (SCP) staff, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s Education spokesperson, said: “Today’s ESRI report, the second of its kind, has been welcomed by School Completion Programme (SCP) workers around the country – […]

The government must invest now if Ireland is to achieve its climate action targets and avoid crippling EU fines of anything between €8 billion and €26 billion, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “The report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change […]

The government must address the barriers that contribute to the underrepresentation of women in farming, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, was speaking ahead of an event celebrating Irish Women in Farming, which will be jointly hosted tomorrow (Tuesday, March 4) by the European Commission […]