News

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Government to ensure that the extension of the commercial rates waiver until the end of September will not impact on the ability of local authorities to provide essential services. Deputy Murphy said: “Many businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic were able to avail […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has said that the €5 billion stimulus package announced this afternoon by the Government must be about putting money into cash registers and into the pockets of those who need it most and will spend it in the short-term. Deputy Murphy said: “While there are positive measures […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said today it beggars belief that the Government has not yet laid out a clear roadmap for the safe reopening of schools at the end of August. Deputy Murphy said: “We are just weeks away from the time when children should begin returning to school and there […]

The Social Democrats have today announced spokesperson roles for the 33rd Dáil. Co-leader Catherine Murphy said: “In announcing our spokesperson roles today, I am confirming that the Social Democrats will continue to work as we did in the last Dáil – by being constructive and practical but also by not being afraid to ask the tough […]

The Social Democrats are this weekend marking their 5th anniversary, and the rapid growth of the Party since 2015. Co-leader, Róisín Shortall TD, said: “It has been an extraordinary first five years. We now have 24 public representatives and a party full of members with ambition, passion and a huge appetite to build on very […]

The Social Democrats have strongly condemned the three Government parties of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party for voting down their motion on Workers’ Rights today. The party’s first Private Members’ Time motion of the 33rd Dáil was debated last night. It sought to increase protection for workers across a range of areas, including […]

The Social Democrats have strongly criticised a Government amendment to its Workers’ Rights Motion which is due to be debated in the Dáil this evening. Dublin Central TD, Gary Gannon, said the amendment from the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar TD, was a disgraceful attempt by the Government to undermine the SocDems motion, which seeks to have […]

Calling on the Taoiseach to act today on people coming into Ireland from areas where Covid-19 is out of control, such as cities in the US, Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said: “Restaurant and tourist businesses owners have been catapulted into being the primary vetting agencies for their customers who may be […]

The Social Democrats today publish the motion on Workers’ Rights that they will bring forward in their first Private Members’ time in the 33rd Dáil. The motion will be debated on Wednesday, July 15, at 8pm. The motion aims to increase protection for workers across a range of areas, including low-pay, precarious work, collective bargaining […]

The co-leader of the Social Democrats and TD for Kildare North, Catherine Murphy, has welcomed the National Transport Authority (NTA) progress report on the Royal Canal and Grand Canal Greenways. In response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Deputy Murphy, the NTA outlined that works on all Dublin City sections of the Royal Canal are […]

The co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy TD, today called on the Taoiseach to outline how prepared the Government was to deal with a second wave of Covid-19, should it occur, in the nursing home sector. Speaking in the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Murphy said: “We now know from the numbers of clusters […]

Speaking on the nomination of Michéal Martin as Taoiseach at today’s Dáil sitting in Dublin’s Convention Centre, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said that today’s vote is not a vote about an individual but rather a vote on a Programme for Government for the next five years. She said that while commentators had a lot […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has described yesterday’s High Court ruling on employment rights as deeply disturbing and says it leaves many lower paid workers vulnerable and opens up the possibility for previously hard fought for pay and conditions achieved through collective bargaining to be rescinded by some employers on foot of this ruling. Catherine […]

The Social Democrats have today condemned the actions of President Donald Trump and all who seek to fuel racial tensions and racial inequality both at home and abroad. The party reiterated its previous assertion that Donald Trump’s style of politics is regressive, demeaning and now downright dangerous. Party co-leader Catherine Murphy said: “What we are […]