Holly Cairns
Spokesperson for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Rural Development; Social Justice; and Disability.
Meet Holly
Holly Cairns is Leader of the Social Democrats and a TD for Cork South-West.
Holly is the youngest party leader in the Dáil. Like so many of her generation, Holly was forced to emigrate after the financial crash. She worked in disability services abroad before moving home to take on her family farm and business.
After campaigning locally to Repeal the 8th Amendment, Holly stood in the 2019 local elections. She won a seat on Cork County Council by a single vote and in 2020, she was elected as a TD.
Holly is an outspoken and passionate contributor to Dáil debates, from holding the government to account for locking an entire generation out of home ownership, to fighting for fairer compensation for survivors of mother and baby homes.
A farmer and an environmentalist, Holly is a firm believer in the need to diversify our agricultural sector in order to protect our biodiversity, improve our food security and secure a profitable future for Irish farming.
To the people out there who think, “There’s no point in voting”, “They’re all the same” and, “Nothing’s going to change”. I look forward to meeting you. I look forward to listening to you. I look forward to changing Ireland for the better, together.
Holly’s Priorities
- Take meaningful climate action underpinned by Just Transition principles.
- Radically increase the delivery of social and affordable housing.
- Ensure a sustainable, profitable future for the farming sector.
- Ratify the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Ensure the full implementation of Sláintecare.
Get in touch
086 361 5830
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
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Latest News
Statement from Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns on the party’s general election results:
Statement from Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns on the party’s general election results: “With the Social Democrats set to make historic gains throughout the country in this election, this has been a monumental week for me, both personally and politically. “Our success in this election is down to the calibre of our candidates and the […]
Read moreDisabled people, their families and workers in the sector have been failed by the Govt
The Soc Dems have made the appointment of a senior minister for disability a dealbreaker for government formation talks Disabled people, their families and workers in the sector have all been failed by the outgoing government, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “A woman who met Simon Harris on the campaign trail was upset […]
Read moreHolly Cairns launches Soc Dems election campaign
There is an arrogance in the government parties thinking they have this election sewn up The Social Democrats have today launched their general election campaign with party leader Holly Cairns outlining the party’s dealbreakers for entering government. Speaking at the event, Cairns said: “The first thing I want to be clear about today – is […]
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