News

The government has yet to provide a single targeted relief to people who are struggling to survive Patronising comments by Junior Minister Seán Fleming on the cost-of-living crisis are indicative of a government that is out of touch and lacking in empathy, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “Advice from Junior Minister Seán Fleming, […]

The refusal grounds are so all encompassing, they make a mockery of the stated purpose of the legislation. The government’s working from home Bill is an employers’ charter which only serves to undermine the right to work from home, according to Social Democrats Enterprise Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “I was concerned, before the legislation was published, […]

There can be no going back to old working practises The government must introduce legislation that gives workers a legal right to work remotely – not merely the right to request flexible working arrangements, according to Social Democrats Enterprise Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “The pandemic has been hugely difficult for people right across society – but […]

Our climate action targets cannot be met without these large-scale public transport projects The delay of Metrolink for at least ten years is a catastrophe for the greater Dublin region and means we are almost assured of missing our climate action targets, according to Social Democrats Transport Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “The revised Dublin transport plan […]

Mr Watt’s intervention has ensured this debacle has gone from tragedy to farce The Department of Health is refusing to release details of a review into the new Children’s Hospital to the PAC, according to Social Democrats co-leader, and vice-chair of the PAC, Catherine Murphy. “A comprehensive review of this project,  by the National Paediatric […]

Serial testing, antigen testing and rapid test-and-trace must be utilised to the greatest extent possible Social Democrats co-leader, and Kildare North TD, Catherine Murphy has expressed concern at reports of an outbreak of 70 covid cases at the Intel site in Leixlip. Deputy Murphy said: “I have been assured the company is working with public […]

Any prospect of the proposed salary increase being backdated should also be discounted immediately The incoming permanent Secretary General of the Department of Health, Robert Watt, should permanently waive the €81,000 pay increase that accompanies his new job, according to Social Democrats co-leader, and PAC Vice Chair, Catherine Murphy. “I welcome the decision of Mr […]

Social Democrats co-leader, and PAC Vice Chairperson, Catherine Murphy TD has queried whether the imminent appointment of Robert Watt, as permanent Secretary General of the Department of Health on a salary of €292,000, was always a fait accompli. “Taoiseach Micheál Martin personally asked Mr Watt to transfer from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform […]

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “Time and again we have seen that the market cannot be relied upon to deliver housing people can afford. “Long-term leasing effectively means that the State is paying a developer’s mortgage on a property by entering into a 20-25-year arrangement, […]

– Party co-leaders Catherine Murphy TD and Róisín Shortall TD set out ambition to make their social democratic vision a reality at fourth annual conference Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy TD and Róisín Shortall TD today set out their vision for the party and Irish society, stating that their aim is to be the party […]

There is broad public acceptance that enforceable quarantine measures are required to keep other variants of Covid-19 out of the country, according to Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Murphy told the Taoiseach that the Government seems to be operating on the working assumption that international travel […]

Today’s announcement in relation to travel effectively reduces the amount of time that passengers arriving from the UK have to restrict their movements for, according to Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Murphy said: “In a response to a parliamentary question from me on January 20, 2021, the Minister for Transport, Eamon […]

Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy TD, has expressed serious concern at the high number of international passengers arriving in Ireland who are failing to provide a contact address, as required. In reply to a Parliamentary Question from Deputy Murphy, the Minister for Transport confirmed that, between December 11 and January 3, 118,414 passengers […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has expressed concern over a number of issues which have come to light today. These include delivery delays of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; reports of frontline staff in Nenagh Hospital not receiving a vaccine; and an appeal to the Irish Government from First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy […]