News

Following the hit success of The Darkside Detective, a game developed by a team working in their spare time between Galway and Dublin, the Social Democrats have called upon the government to support the games industry in a similar way to the Irish film industry which has been built into a global hub. Niall Ó […]

The General Election campaign of the Social Democrats’ candidate for Dublin Central, councillor Gary Gannon, will be launched at a public event tomorrow night [Thursday 3 August]. Broadcaster, fashion designer, and health campaigner Brendan Courtney will MC the event, which kicks off at 7.30p.m. in the Skylon Hotel in Drumcondra. The theme of Gary’s campaign is #We Are, and speakers will […]

The government’s abject failure to deliver so-called ‘rapid-build’ homes shows just how desperately we need a dedicated Housing Delivery Agency, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said today. Deputy Murphy said: “It’s farcical for the government to talk about ‘rapid-build’ homes when only 22 out of 1,500 pledged modular units have been completed so far. It’s […]

People seeking free legal advice are currently facing waiting times of up to 76 weeks for appointments at Legal Aid Board law centres, according to the latest figures released to the Social Democrats. The figures show that combined waiting times for first and second consultations at Legal Aid Board law centres on 1st July 2017 were […]

The Department of Health and the HSE need to stop passing the buck over funding for nine life-saving drugs so that public patients do not suffer, Róisín Shortall TD said today. Deputy Shortall made her comments following reports that the Department of Health and the HSE were at odds over whether the executive has sufficient […]

Official figures released today to the Social Democrats from the Department of Justice reveal the staggering number and length of time people are waiting for Free Legal Aid in Cork. In a written answer to a question from Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall, Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD noted the following figures […]

The government has resorted to cynically re-announcing a pre-existing corruption bill in a bid to make itself look busy, Róisín Shortall TD said today. The co-leader of the Social Democrats was commenting on the announcement by the Minister for Justice that the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017 was discussed at cabinet yesterday. “This Bill […]

The Social Democrats have called on the Garda Síochána to publish full details of any contracts with private companies operating mobile speed detection cameras in the state. Party co-leader Róisín Shortall TD made the call today as details of a €1.2 million per month contract with the company GoSafe were published following a Freedom of […]

Social Democrats representatives in Co Louth will deliver water to households in the Drogheda area this week in a bid to help with the supply crisis in the town. The party members have put out a social media appeal asking people to contact them if they know of any elderly, sick or vulnerable residents who […]

The high costs of sending children to school need to be lifted so that parents do not have to use money earmarked for household bills, the Social Democrats said today. Party co-leader Róisín Shortall TD was commenting on a survey published today which found that 72 per cent of parents feel the back to school […]

Aengus Ó Maoláin, Social Democrats representative for Castleknock and Blanchardstown, has called on Fingal County Council to take on responsibility for recycling used car tyres for a trial period at its depot in Coolmine as one possible step to address the scourge of illegal dumping in Dublin 15. Hundreds of fish were killed today due […]

The mixing of private incentive and public interest at the heart of our health system creates an ungovernable twilight zone, Róisín Shortall TD will tell the MacGill Summer School tonight. Deputy Shortall chaired the cross-party Committee on the Future of Healthcare which recently produced a 10-year blueprint for reform of the health service, called Sláintecare […]

The Government’s climate change plan requires massive capital spending which is not available because it refuses to challenge EU spending rules, according to Róisín Shortall TD. The co-leader of the Social Democrats said the National Mitigation Plan published today was an exercise in wishful thinking, as the government is not in a position to invest […]

Catherine Murphy TD has welcomed the hard-hitting PAC report into financial practices at Templemore Garda training and said the report does “not pull any punches.” Speaking at the launch of the report, Deputy Murphy said that when she had first raised the issue with the then Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald it had been dismissed […]