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Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, has called for measures to support students seeking accommodation who have less protections than other renters. Holly said: “Students and their families are facing an incredibly hard year with uncertainty about how teaching and learning will be delivered in colleges. This means students are […]

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Children, said that the Government must try to ensure that they communicate public health information for the childcare sector in a way that does not appear to contradict HSE guidelines. Deputy Whitmore said: “I welcome the HSE’s latest guidelines for parents as children begin to return to childcare […]

Social Democrats TD for Cork South-West, Holly Cairns, is seeking immediate action and greater consultation with communities after successive flood events in the past two weeks. Holly said: “We’re now in our third week of flooding in West Cork. Towns and communities, including Bandon, Skibbereen and Bantry, have been affected by floods recently. “This situation […]

The Social Democrats have called for mobile Covid-19 testing units to be rolled out for schools to help identify outbreaks and prevent widespread closures in the event of clusters emerging. Gary Gannon TD, the party’s Education spokesperson, said: “As primary and secondary schools start to reopen this week, there is understandable anxiety among parents, students, […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, calls on the Minister for Justice to establish if the appearance and comments of a member of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) at a rally denying the Covid-19 pandemic and campaigning against the wearing of masks is contrary to the code of governance and ethics required […]

Acknowledging the Government’s decision, following calls from the Social Democrats and other opposition parties, to recall the Dáil early, Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats calls their decision inadequate and calls for the Dáil to come back this week. “There’s too much at stake for the Government to be waiting around. Public confidence […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Taoiseach and appropriate ministers to come to Kildare to see first-hand the impact of the lockdown extension on local residents and businesses. Deputy Murphy said: “This decision will be greeted with understandable fury in Kildare and the Government needs to provide a comprehensive […]

Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan, has warned that the withdrawal of school bus routes across parts of Dublin could cost families thousands if replacement services are not provided. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Earlier this summer Dublin Bus announced that it was ceasing 25 direct bus services across Dublin that brought students to […]

The Social Democrats have renewed their call for the Dáil to be reconvened next week following the resignation of the Minister for Agriculture and ongoing public disquiet over the Government’s confusing messaging on the latest Covid-19 restrictions. Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the party, said: “The resignation of Minister Calleary is symptomatic of the contradictory […]

Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan, has called for the public to be provided with up to date information on local outbreaks of Covid-19. Cllr O’Callaghan said: “It is vital that regularly updated information on local outbreaks of Covid 19 is available so that people can take additional precautions and measures to […]

The publication of the latest Women’s Aid report is a stark reminder of the State’s lack of investment in refuge centres and other vital supports for at-risk families, according to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, the party’s spokesperson on Justice. Deputy Murphy said: “The report for 2019, entitled ‘When Home is Not Safe’, documents a […]

Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan, said that today’s publication of the Report on Covid-19 in Nursing Homes must lead to urgent reform of the sector and highlights the need for a statutory right to home care. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “As the country stands on the cusp of a second wave of […]

The Social Democrats have called for the Dáil to be reconvened next week so the Government can address urgent issues surrounding the escalating Covid-19 crisis. Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the party, said: Since the Dáil went into recess at the end of July, we seem to have lurched from one crisis to the next, […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said that the new restrictions announced by the Government this evening are difficult to understand in the absence of up to date information on the transmission of new case numbers and clusters. Deputy Murphy said: “The latest restrictions come just four days after 200 Covid-19 cases were […]