News

We are now facing a fourth wave of Covid-19 and lessons must be learned from the previous three There must be a full public inquiry into what happened in our nursing homes during the pandemic, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. Deputy Shortall was responding to an RTE Investigates programme on care in nursing […]

Linking rents to inflation is a policy for another era The Government plan to link rent increases to the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices will see rents continue to rise by about 2pc per year, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The Government’s plan to link rent increases to inflation is coming […]

We urgently need clarity on Nphet’s figures and their projections The government’s plans to reopen the country are unworkable, unenforceable and raise serious legal and ethical issues, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In his address today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government wanted to reopen the country in a “sensible” and “balanced” […]

Clarity on the PUP can be provided in advance of Nphet meeting and providing its public health advice. The government urgently needs to clarify whether it intends to extend the cut-off date for new applicants to the PUP, according to Social Democrats Social Protection Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will close to new […]

Government housing policy prioritises the interests of private developers and private profit The Department of Housing has confirmed it is undertaking a review of its long-term leasing policy and targets, according to Social Democrats Councillor Aidan Farrelly. In January, on foot of a motion from Cllr Farrelly, Kildare County Council wrote to Housing Minister Darragh […]

Ordinary buyers cannot compete with investors who have millions or even billions to spend The asking price of a four-bed semi in Rathmines increasing by nearly 80pc in a week suggests sky-high rents are now distorting the entire housing market, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “This house in Rathmines – which will […]

This sector has been continually neglected by the government Today’s large protest by fishers from around country highlights the frustration and fear felt by coastal communities, according to Social Democrats Agriculture, Food and the Marine Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “This sector has been continually neglected by the government. Any marginal engagement was too little too late. In response […]

Their first instinct was to make life more difficult for home buyers – rather than check their obligations under GDPR Estate agents who sought their customers personal data, in breach of their GDPR obligations, should apologise to their customers, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was responding after the Data Protection […]

The government has said it will not oppose our motion. They must go further – and actively support it. The Tánaiste should immediately clarify remarks he made in which he suggested Holles Street was a Catholic-ethos hospital, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Leo Varadkar said he worked at the national maternity hospital at […]

Leo Varadkar’s pledge to construct 40,000 homes per year not credible The State’s over-reliance on the private market to solve the housing crisis means nearly one-third of new homes are now bought by institutions, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “According to the Social Justice Ireland, the proportion of newly built homes bought […]