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Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today accused the Attorney General of inappropriate and gross interference in legislative and judicial matters that he has no place commenting on. The Dublin north west TD said: “The job of the chief law officer of the state is to advise the government – not to weigh in with […]

The Social Democrats have accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of two-facedness over the refusal of both parties to disclose the amount they are spending on Facebook advertising. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said today: “Given the backdrop of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the furore over the Strategic Communications Unit, it is inexcusable […]

Ronan Moore, the Social Democrats’ general election candidate for Meath West, has welcomed the Department of Education’s announcement last night that it will reverse a decision to cap enrolments on five Educate Together schools in Trim, Tuam, New Ross, Tramore and Castlebar. The Department had earlier this year instructed these five schools to cap intake […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make a commitment to engage with public representatives and Na Fianna personnel to find alternatives to the use of the Glasnevin club’s GAA pitches for the new MetroLink route. The Dublin North West TD said: “The planned use of Na Fianna’s grounds […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has branded as ‘disgraceful’ a response from the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability issues, Finian McGrath where he admits he has no plan or timeframe for the enactment of a key component of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Deputy Shortall […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said renters are being priced out of Dublin into commuter counties – but without proper infrastructure supports being put in place. Deputy Murphy was commenting on today’s figures from the Residential Tenancies Board which show that in the four counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, the average rent […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD, responding to a Social Justice Ireland report that shows more than 104,000 working people at risk of poverty, today said: “The findings of the Poverty Focus 2018 report are very disturbing and show just how much this government is failing working people and their families. “The government clearly has […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has strongly criticised Government inaction on the crisis in General Practice which means medical card patients are increasingly being refused access to basic GP services. Deputy Shortall said: “Today’s Sunday Business Post health feature clearly demonstrates that there is a very real crisis in General Practice where increasingly medical […]

The Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has described as ‘jaw-dropping’ reports today about the Taoiseach’s lead role in a planned major public relations campaign around Garda crime statistics. The Kildare North TD was reacting to a report on RTÉ’s This Week programme that the Taoiseach last year suggested a PR campaign in relation to […]

The Social Democrats have expressed serious concern that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s meddling in the planning process for a wind farm at the behest of Donald Trump left no trace in official planning files. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “The Taoiseach has now changed his story about what actions he took after he was […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has expressed huge disappointment over the failure of Minister Finian McGrath TD to support people with disabilities by ensuring that they have the right to bring complaints to an important UN body. Deputy Shortall said the Minister had betrayed Ireland’s 640,000 people with disabilities who now have no way […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has expressed surprise and concern over reports today that the Taoiseach had made representations on behalf of Trump to Clare County Council in relation to a planning issue. Deputy Murphy said: “The Taoiseach told an apparently folksy tale to journalists in Washington today about how he had rang Clare County […]

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit Ireland is a betrayal of Irish values, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The Taoiseach‘s decision to invite President Trump to Ireland is a betrayal of the values that Irish people hold dear. President Trump is an aggressive […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Education Equality and Access, Councillor Gary Gannon, has criticised the heavy-handed approach of private security at Trinity College Dublin to students protesting against proposals to introduce new fees for repeat examinations. Councillor Gannon said: “Students who have turned out in force to Take Back Trinity deserve to have their voices heard, […]