News

The law is inadvertently facilitating the further abuse of social housing tenants Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has called on the Government to make changes to legislation to protect social housing tenants who are survivors of domestic abuse. “As things stand, a person who is abusing their partner can refuse to relinquish their rights under […]

Parents and families should not have to wait any longer for the protections and security of legal certainty Confirmation that that Government intends to legislate for international surrogacy is hugely welcome, according to Social Democrats Children’s spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who chaired the Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy, said: “I am pleased that the […]

An Bord Pleanála needs to be protected from political interference Legislation being rushed through the Dáil this week has the potential to further erode public confidence in the planning system, according to Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “This regressive Bill seeks to concentrate power in the Minister’s hands when it comes to the appointment […]

Shocking figures show that 20% of social housing residents with pre-paid meters in one district energy block have been cut-off from heating and hot water  Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan has called for immediate State supports for residents reliant on district energy systems after it emerged that some households have been charged extortionate rates […]

Halfway through this Government’s term, all key housing statistics are pointing in the wrong direction Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has confirmed that his party will be voting against tomorrow’s Government motion expressing confidence in Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “We are now halfway through this Government’s […]

Will the Minister now take on board the Social Democrats’ 11 proposals to deal with recruitment crisis in our schools?  Comments made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in the Dáil today add another bizarre twist to the Government’s botched response to the teacher recruitment crisis, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “In response to […]

Women in rural areas deserve certainty about their maternity services The HSE’s suspension of its plans to cancel home births in Cork and Kerry is a good first step – but the misguided plans should be permanently abandoned, according to Social Democrats Cork South West TD Holly Cairns. “In August we learned that the HSE […]

Overdue regulation of short-term lets must include proper enforcement The Government’s long overdue announcement of plans to regulate the short-term letting market must include a nationwide extension of Rent Pressure Zones, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “With homelessness numbers, house prices and rents all […]

Some TDs, who were teachers before their election to the Dáil, are currently on career breaks Plans to cancel career breaks for teachers, in response to the recruitment crisis, show the government are out of ideas and grasping at straws, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon as speaking in advance of […]

The Minister for Education has been sleepwalking through this crisis and has failed to give it the urgency it deserves The Social Democrats will bring a Private Members’ Motion before the Dáil on Wednesday (December 7), calling for a range of measures to address the serious shortage of teachers in primary and secondary schools. The […]

Parents and children deserve action, not apologies, from the HSE  Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has called for urgent action from the HSE after unacceptably long waiting lists for Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) emerged today. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on Disability, said: “It is a matter of deep concern to learn that […]

People with disabilities have been left waiting almost a decade for mobility support schemes to be replaced The delay in introducing a new personal transport scheme for disabled people has been described as cruel and indefensible by Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability […]

Focus needs to shift to the delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost-rental homes Figures published by the Central Statistics Office showing a contraction in residential building activity for the third quarter of this year is further proof that the Government’s housing plan is not working, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, […]

Exclusion of adoptive and parental leave is a missed opportunity  A Bill to provide maternity leave entitlements to councillors falls short of the level of reform required to encourage more women to enter politics, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns was speaking in advance of a debate on the second stage of […]