News

Nero fiddling has nothing on the diddling of the Minister while our schools fell victim to an airborne virus Education Minister Norma Foley owes school communities an apology after her Department performed a u-turn on the advice on mask wearing in schools, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Last week, schools were given […]

If we are serious about suppressing the surge in covid, then we have to act fast The failure to roll out antigen testing in primary schools for nearly another two weeks is deeply concerning while the scheme itself is unnecessarily bureaucratic, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “The Government has promised antigen testing […]

Government must prioritise schools for antigen testing It is indefensible that TDs would have access to free antigen tests before teachers and children, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “I have learned today that antigen tests will be made available for TDs, and Oireachtas staff, from next week. It is incredible that arrangements […]

It is about time the Minister took control and demonstrated some leadership The Minister for Education is missing in action as schools struggle to cope with a huge increase in the incidence of covid, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Our school communities are being crushed under the pressure of covid. They are […]

Education, based on facts and science, should be the bare minimum that all of our children can expect Children’s Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) must be informed by best practice in science and healthcare, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon, who has launched new legislation to reform the way RSE is taught. “In a […]

The granting of permission to this enormous development proves the city development is no longer worth the paper it is written on The decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission to a Strategic Housing Development on the grounds of Holy Cross seminary in Drumcondra is deeply concerning, according to Social Democrats Dublin Central […]

How can the Minister solve a problem that she doesn’t accept exists? A crisis in subbing means children with additional education needs are missing out on teaching hours with their special education teachers, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. “Since schools returned in September, I have been repeatedly contacted about the huge problem principals […]

We don’t need an independent inquiry to tell us this practice is abhorrent The Defence Minister must immediately act to amend the law so that victims of rape or sexual assault in the defence forces can no longer by cross-examined by their abusers, according to Social Democrats Defence Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “The harrowing revelations of […]

Repeated efforts by these women to have their complaints of sexual abuse, discrimination and harassment investigated seriously, and credibly, have failed A fully independent investigation is required to determine the extent of sexual abuse, harassment and assault in the defence forces, according to Social Democrats Defence Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Women Of Honour, an RTE documentary […]

We must do everything we can to ensure schools stay open – and remain a safe place for both children and their teachers School principals must not be abandoned to cope with a surge of contact-tracing alone, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Schools reopening in the midst of a delta surge was […]

Mr Coveney asks us to believe that Ms Zappone is a mug. That she not only invented a job offer, she invented a start date for that non-existent job Simon Coveney’s latest convoluted explanation of his handling of the botched appointment of Katherine Zappone does not just stretch credulity – it annihilates it, according to […]

The hacking of the Minister’s phone is a serious national security concern The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee must investigate the revelation that, Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney’s phone was hacked, according to the Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “Yesterday, while answering questions at the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee about his failed attempt to […]

Clarity on the PUP can be provided in advance of Nphet meeting and providing its public health advice. The government urgently needs to clarify whether it intends to extend the cut-off date for new applicants to the PUP, according to Social Democrats Social Protection Spokesperson Gary Gannon. “The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will close to new […]

We cannot rely on the Catholic Church to voluntarily relinquish control of the education system. The government is paying lip-service to the idea of a fully inclusive education system, according Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon was responding to a report today noting the government’s plan to provide 400 multi-denominational primary schools by […]