News

Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy have issued a joint statement following yesterday’s announcement that they are to step aside as co-leaders of the Social Democrats. The party’s National Executive will meet this evening (Thursday, February 23) to make arrangements for the election of a new leader. Both Catherine and Róisín fully intend to remain active […]

Confirmation that Road Safety Authority is engaged in legal process to impose penalties relating to NCT contract is welcome – but must be fully pursued The Government must urgently address ongoing delays being experienced by motorists trying to access National Car Testing (NCT) centres and apply appropriate penalties on operator Applus+ for any breaches of […]

In Iceland, 86pc of the country’s workforce either work a four-day week or have a right to do so The government should move ahead with a large-scale pilot project of a four-day working week following the overwhelming success of a limited trial, according to Social Democrats Enterprise Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “All 12 companies that took […]

Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall have announced that Independent Waterford Councillor Mary Roche is joining the party. Deputies Murphy and Shortall travelled to Waterford today to meet Cllr Roche and make the announcement. Cllr Roche said: “I have long admired the work of the Social Democrats and their co-leaders Catherine Murphy and […]

Transport Minister should veto proposed hike in toll charges  There is no justification for the scale of toll increases due to come into effect within weeks, according to Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. “With private motorists and haulage companies already struggling with increased fuel costs, the reported rise in tolls from January […]

Callous treatment of Twitter staff does not bode well for future direction of company under new ownership Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has called on the Government to ensure that Twitter will fully comply with all provisions of Irish employment law after staff learned of significant job losses at its Dublin office today. Deputy […]

We need answers about how much this mess is likely to cost taxpayers  The chaos engulfing An Bord Pleanála is costing the State dearly as fees for delays and legal challenges soar, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “Today, the Irish Independent reported An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has paid out more than €1 million […]

Bulk of €124 million in unclaimed prize money spent on advertising and promotion, according to report Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has welcomed recommendations contained in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services for 2021 relating to oversight of the National Lottery’s finances. Deputy Murphy, who is vice-chair of […]

Immediate threat to living standards and long-term challenges must be met Protecting the most vulnerable from the cost-of-living crisis is the key priority in the Social Democrats’ alternative budget, published today. The party’s alternative budget document, ‘Responding to the Crisis: A Social Democratic Approach’, aims to strike a balance between dealing with the immediate threat […]

Named individuals peddled mistruths, concealed information and engaged in behaviour that the report describes as “manifestly improper and wrong” The report of Mr Justice Brian Cregan is a devastating chronology of the Siteserv deal which reveals the integrity of the sales process was tainted from the very start, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. […]

This controversy has again highlighted the toothless nature of the State’s ethics watchdog SIPO Junior Minister Robert Troy must make a comprehensive statement in the Dáil when it returns outlining all of his business interests, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “The drip feed of information, from Robert Troy, has been deeply unsatisfactory. As […]

Catherine Murphy  Friends, I want to welcome everyone here today. The last time we met like this it was 2019. We didn’t think it would take quite this long to get back into a room together again. I also want to warmly welcome all those watching at home. We believe the potential, and desire, for […]

There is a real and genuine public concern that the government will be on the wrong side of history when it comes to the national maternity hospital  Health Minister Stephen Donnelly must publish the legal framework for the new national maternity hospital and bring it before the Dáil before it is signed off by cabinet, […]

Tinkering around the edges will do little to help those struggling to survive in the long-term The government’s response to the cost-of-living crisis is not sufficiently targeted at those who need help the most, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “The vast bulk of the funding announced today is for a blanket €200 electricity […]