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An Irish solution to an Irish problem was supposed to be an artefact of history Confirmation today that nearly 200 women had to travel to the UK last year for abortion services is evidence that the law needs to be reviewed, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “Most women who needed abortion care were […]

Many of those working in the Arts are reliant on the PUP, which the government plans to cut from September Plans to introduce a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists are welcome – if overdue, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts, Catherine Martin, has committed to “prioritise” […]

An Bord Pleanála reached a humane decision on this sensitive matter An Bord Pleanála’s refusal to grant planning permission for a large development on the site of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home is the correct decision, according to Social Democrats TD, and member of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee, Holly Cairns. Holly said: “I welcome […]

The world’s first milk bank was set up in Austria in 1909 – we are 112 years behind on this A motion calling for a variety of supports for breastfeeding mothers has been introduced in the Dáil, by Social Democrats Children Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Tomorrow, May 19, is world human milk donation day – a […]

Unless the Minister acts now, the Shannon LNG terminal could get planning permission   The government is talking out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to its commitments on climate change, according to Social Democrats TD, and Climate Spokesperson, Jennifer Whitmore. “The Minister for Climate, and Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan has […]

The very least we owe these children, and their families, is to investigate how they died. Holly Cairns TD is calling on the Minister for Justice to ensure that inquests are held into all deaths that occurred in mother and baby homes and similar institutional settings. During a debate on the Institutional Burial Bill, at […]

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.8″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.8″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”excerpt” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”3.9″ disabled=”on” /][et_pb_image src=”https://staging.socialdemocrats.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/profile.jpg” align=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”3.9″ max_width=”84%”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Headline” _builder_version=”3.9″] [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”3.9″] “Today’s Budget provides for an extra two weeks of paid parental leave per parent. This is a meagre allocation – and it doesn’t even kick in until November of next year.” […]

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.8″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.8″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”excerpt” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”3.9″ disabled=”on”] Social Democrats’ Spokesperson on Children, Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has said today’s ESRI-Pobal research findings that women are being shut out of the workplace by the high cost of childcare shows the need for a complete re-think of how we deliver childcare and the role […]

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.8″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.8″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”excerpt” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”3.9″ disabled=”on”] Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Cllr Jennifer Whitmore today called on the Minister for Children to examine making Facebook content moderators who review videos of physical abuse legally obliged to report. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://staging.socialdemocrats.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Jennifer-blue-shirt.jpg” align=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”3.9″ max_width=”50%”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Headline” _builder_version=”3.9″] [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”3.9″] […]

A Social Democrats’ private members bill to increase to six months the amount of unpaid parental leave available to working parents goes to final stage in the Dáil tomorrow, Wednesday 13th June. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 aims to help working families enjoy better work-life balance by permitting parents to spend more time caring […]

The Social Democrats have welcomed the passage today at committee stage of our Bill to increase to six months the amount of unpaid parental leave available to working parents of children aged up to 12. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 aims to help working families enjoy better work-life balance by permitting parents to spend […]

A Social Democrats’ private members’ bill to enable working parents to spend more time caring for their children goes to committee stage tomorrow, Wednesday 16th May. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 allows parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected. This […]

WITH NEW EU-WIDE data protection laws on the way, there has been a lot of discussion about the digital age of consent, but not a lot of clarity on what it actually is. Despite what you may have heard, it’s not about putting age restrictions on access to the internet, or limiting young people’s expression […]

The Social Democrats are seeking cross party support for legal changes to ban the commercial monetisation of the digital data of children and teens under the age of 18. The party is today tabling amendments to the government’s Data Protection Bill 2018 to prohibit the use of children’s data for marketing purposes. The party’s co-leader […]