News

The Social Democrats today publish reform proposals to make lobbying activities more open and government decisions more accountable. The initiative is in direct response to the recent controversy over highly inappropriate contacts between Communications Minister Denis Naughten and a professional lobbyist for Independent News and Media in relation to the company’s proposed takeover of Celtic […]

The Social Democrats have said the government must restore capitation rates for primary schools in this year’s Budget to ease the unsustainable burden on parents of subsidising the State’s ‘free education’. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD made the call following reports today of analysis by Grant Thornton which shows that parents are forking out […]

Social Democrats Political Director Anne-Marie McNally has said that today’s Youth Work Ireland report showing that youngsters increasingly turn to the internet rather than parents or teachers shows how important it is for us to radically overhaul how we, as a society, talk about sex. Ms McNally said: “Yet again we are faced with stark […]

The Social Democrats today called for a Yes vote in next month’s referendum, saying that repeal of the Eighth Amendment would pave the way for a doctor-led, regulated and safe system of healthcare for women and girls. The Soc Dems Yes for Repeal campaign launch took place this morning in three locations: Grafton Street in […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has accused the government of betraying people with disabilities by denying them the right to bring complaints under an important UN Convention which comes into force in Ireland today. Deputy Shortall was speaking at a protest outside Leinster House this morning to mark the fact that the UN Convention […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has used a topical debate in the Dáil to ask the Minister for Communications Denis Naughten to recuse himself from any role in media regulation in Ireland based on the revelations by Simon Carswell and Mark Paul in today’s Irish Times which suggest that the Minister relayed information regarding the […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has said she is dismayed at reports in today’s Irish Times that on the afternoon of the 11th of November 2016 Communications Minister Denis Naughten informed a PR Executive, working on behalf of Lesley Buckley and INM, that the proposed acquisition of Celtic Media would be referred to the Broadcasting Authority […]

The Social Democrats are today calling for the setting up of a Commission on the Future of the Media to ensure media independence and minimise the potential for the over-concentration of media ownership with any one individual or company. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “The recent allegations of a significant data breach at […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has taken serious issue with the government’s refusal to outlaw the repugnant practice of harvesting children’s data for marketing purposes by large companies including Facebook. Deputy Shortall criticised the government’s Data Protection Bill 2018, which is currently before the Oireachtas, for failing to include robust restrictions on how companies […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD today called on the government to get to grips with the chronic shortage of affordable homes and ensure that state land is used to provide both social and affordable housing. Deputy Murphy made her comments as RTÉ reported that a government scheme to incentivise the construction of affordable homes […]

Social Democrats Councillor Cian O’Callaghan has criticised as deeply undemocratic the decision by the Executive of Fingal County Council to ban events hosted by either side of the referendum campaign from community centres and halls. Cllr O’Callaghan said: “It is essential in a democracy that people of different view-points have space to engage in debate […]

Social Democrats Cllr. Jennifer Whitmore has questioned the delay to the rollout of the Out-of-Hours GP service for North Wicklow. Whitmore said: “In January this year, Minister Harris made an announcement of an Out-of-Hours GP service for North Wicklow. North Wicklow is one of the few urban areas in the country that doesn’t have a […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has today written to the Data Protection Commissioner on foot of a parliamentary reply she received from the Department of Finance as to the circumstances surrounding the circulation of internal IBRC documents by a former IBRC executive. Deputy Murphy had asked the Minister for Finance if he had engaged with […]

The Social Democrats have selected Aengus Ó Maoláin to contest the next general election in Dublin West for the party. Party members met in the Bell in Blanchardstown on Monday the 9th of April where Ó Maoláin was chosen unanimously to represent the party. Speaking at the convention Ó Maoláin said, “the Social Democrats speak […]