Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs In government, we will promote abroad our values of an inclusive, fair and just society with dignity, respect and equality for all citizens, which defines who we are as both a nation and a people. A culture that promotes human rights and respect for international law is strongly embedded in Ireland. Through our […]

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Drug Reform

Drug Reform The work of various Citizens’ Assemblies in recent years has had an important role in helping change the narrative around a number of issues where this type of moral judgement has been at the foundation of policy, and we hope this Assembly will do similarly. The document below is the Social Democrats’ submission […]

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Biodiversity

Biodiversity Biodiversity loss is one of the biggest challenges that Ireland faces. This is not a crisis that has just come upon us, but has been years in the making. For far too long, we have relied on the false narrative that Ireland as a green country, is also an environmentally friendly one. We must […]

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Community Banking

Community Banking There has never been a greater need and demand for full-service community banking in Ireland. Many people would rather bank with publicly-owned, or community owned, institutions. Across the country, households and small businesses are finding it difficult to secure loans, including for mortgages and business investment. Improved access to finance will be vital […]

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Arts & Culture

Arts and Culture Every person in Ireland has a right to participate in arts and culture in their everyday life. The Social Democrats believe that arts and culture underpin our overall wellbeing and creativity, our innovation, and our social cohesion. Ireland has a very diverse artistic and creative ecosystem, which delivers huge cultural and economic […]

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Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare The Social Democrats strongly advocate animal rights, and recognise animals as intelligent, sentient beings capable of complex thought and of experiencing pain and suffering. As a guiding principle, the State should strive to ensure that animals: Live lives free of pain and discomfort in so far as that is possible. Are strongly protected […]

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Supporting Families

Supporting Families Parenting is the most important job that any of us will ever do. Yet, in Ireland, we do too little to support parents. Despite improvements in recent years, we are still well behind other countries in terms of paid leave for parents, investment in childcare and early years education, supports for new parents, […]

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Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland A United Ireland, achieved by consent has the real potential to benefit the people of the entire island economically, politically and culturally. We will therefore work towards achieving this in a spirit of mutual respect of and by the two parts of the island and based on a foundation of Social Democratic principles. […]

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LGBTQI+ Rights

LGBTQI+ Rights Over the last 30 years, Ireland has made significant progress in terms of LGBTQI+ equality and acceptance. The successful Marriage Equality Referendum in May 2015, and the Gender Recognition Act of 2015, were important moments on that journey of change. As a new party our history is not only rooted in these achievements […]

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General Election Manifesto 2020

Invest in Better This election offers a real choice. One option continues our current path. The same old ways of doing politics. Failing on our climate targets. Crisis after crisis caused by leaving health, housing and other public services to the market. The Social Democrats want to help move Ireland in a new direction. We […]

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