News

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Climate Action, said that a report detailing the deliberate killing of hundreds of birds of prey highlights the urgency for the establishment of a Wildlife Crime Unit. Deputy Whitmore said: “The report revealed that the vast majority of Ireland’s birds of prey killed by human attacks or other […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall has expressed serious concern at revelations that the Minister for Health only learned of the unfolding crisis with the contact tracing system on Tuesday night. Deputy Shortall, who is the party’s spokesperson on Health, said: “Today’s statement from the Department of Health on the collapse of the testing and tracing […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, is calling on the Government to extend the planned ban on evictions for six months. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “We need decisive, concrete action from the Government on evictions. Bouncing in and out of temporary and partial bans is not good enough at this stage. […]

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, has welcomed the publication of an expert advisory group’s report on reforming Ireland’s direct provision system. Deputy Whitmore said: “The advisory group, which is led by former Secretary General of the European Commission, Dr Catherine Day, has sent a list of recommendations to the Minister for Justice Helen […]

The Social Democrats believe it is imperative that proposed legislation to seal the records of the archives of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes for 30 years is not passed into law when it comes before the Dáil this evening. A number of amendments to the Bill have been put forward by […]

The Social Democrats have called for assurances from senior management around the future of Ulster Bank in Ireland. The call comes from the party as the Minister for Finance meets the bank today. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “There has been speculation for weeks around the future of Ulster Bank. Neither bank management in Ireland, nor the parent company Natwest, […]

The Social Democrats have called for swift action to introduce a targeted sick pay scheme for staff in the nursing home sector and meat industry. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today raised with the Taoiseach the need for the immediate introduction of a targeted scheme for staff who are particularly vulnerable. Commenting, Deputy Shortall said: “We have repeatedly […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, has called on the Government to immediately address the impact of Level 5 restrictions on third level students. Holly said: “As the lockdown comes into effect this week, college students will face a particular set of challenges, so it is essential for the Government […]

Social Democrats councillor for the Rush Lusk ward, Paul Mulville, has called on a special Government taskforce to urgently visit local communities directly affected by coastal erosion and flooding. Cllr Mulville said: “The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has assembled the National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group, which I have […]

The passing of legislation that would result in the archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes being sealed for 30 years would be an act of political cowardice, according to the Social Democrats. Dublin Central TD, Gary Gannon, said: “This week, politicians across the island received thousands of emails from citizens […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Disability Issues, has expressed disappointment that core welfare payments for people with disabilities have not been increased in Budget 2021. Holly said: “We all welcome the €100 million increase in funding to assist people with disabilities, which will help with the reopening of day services and move people […]

Covid-19 has refocused people’s priorities – but this was not factored into Budget 2021 Speaking in the Dáil today, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said that Budget 2021 underinvests in public services and the economy. Deputy Murphy stated: “The budget ignores the fact that Covid has focused public priorities on public services, particularly around health and […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, has expressed serious concern about the absence of a direct-build affordable housing scheme in Budget 2021. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The budget failed to address the issue of housing affordability. There is no provision for the direct building of affordable homes by the State – this […]

Calling out the Government for not grasping the opportunity in Budget 2021 to move to a public model of childcare provision, Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for children said: “Our childcare system fell apart on its first major test in the early stages of Covid-19. The privatised, under-resourced model which successive governments have created […]