News

The Social Democrats today set out detailed proposals for a Renters’ Charter to protect tenants and make sure that our rental sector provides secure and affordable homes. The 12-point charter is being unveiled at the party’s second National Conference in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The event opened last night with a […]

Social Democrats Cllr. Cian O’Callaghan said: “The report of the National Oversight and Audit Committee showing key performance indicators for local government in 2016 states that Social Housing Stock figures provided by local authorities could not be published due to errors and inconsistencies with data supplied. It is incredible to think that our local government […]

The Social Democrats’ second National Conference – to be held in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin this weekend – marks a year of significant growth and progress for the party. The event will see members and supporters from around the country gather on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th January to discuss the party’s policies and priorities […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has received a reply from Irish Rail stating that they have not been provided with funding for any new trains or carriages for 2018, 2019 or 2020. The response came on foot of a series of questions that Deputy Murphy has posed to the Minister for Transport, the National Transport […]

The government must act urgently to implement the safety recommendations of an Oireachtas Housing Committee report due to be published today, Dublin Bay North Social Democrats’ councillor and spokesperson on Fire Safety and Building Standards Cian O’Callaghan has said. Councillor O’Callaghan said: “The recommendations of a report by the Oireachtas Housing Committee stating that there […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has called on the Minister for Transport to review the funding scheme for Wheelchair Accessible Taxis so as to ensure that every area has a sufficient allocation of accessible vehicles to meet demand. Research undertaken by Deputy Murphy shows that allocation of wheelchair accessible taxis across Counties is very unequal […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today introduces to the Dáil a Bill to give renters a minimum of 90 days’ notice to quit a property and to give incoming tenants access to the amount of rent paid by their predecessors. The party welcomes the backing of opposition parties Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour and […]

The Social Democrats have voiced strong support for today’s call by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission for a radical overhaul of the legislation governing its operations to make the system of garda complaints and oversight fairer, more transparent and more efficient. Party co-leader Róisín Shortall TD called on the Minister for Justice to move swiftly […]

Social Democrats Co-Leader Catherine Murphy has said it is completely unacceptable that the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, is unable to provide accurate figures regarding the amount of housing units built last year. She said that despite this lack of knowledge the Minister was irresponsibly making unfounded claims about Government exceeding its targets. Catherine Murphy […]

The Social Democrats today publish a Bill to help tackle hasty evictions, unfair rent hikes and growing homelessness by strengthening tenants’ rights. The party is seeking cross-party support for its Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018 which extends the minimum notice period for terminations of tenancies and strengthens tenants’ rights in relation to how rent caps are […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has backed the call by the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission for extra resources to investigate serious allegations made by garda whistleblowers. Deputy Murphy said: “It is unconscionable that a request more than a year ago by GSOC for 12 extra staff for its dedicated Protected Disclosures Unit has gone […]

The Social Democrats’ candidate for Roscommon-Galway, Ken Campbell, has called for substantially increased fixed charged fines for drivers who park illegally in disabled parking spaces. Mr Campbell said the move would help deter able bodied motorists from illegally parking in spots designated for holders of EU disabled parking permits, which are issued for people whose […]

The influenza vaccine should be offered for free to all school children to arrest the spread of the virus, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore said today. Greystones Councillor Whitmore was commenting after the HSE today released its weekly Influenza Surveillance Report which showed a 130 per cent increase in the number of […]

Paul Mulville, Social Democrats councillor for the Swords local electoral area, has highlighted the need for Rogerstown Estuary to be protected. Cllr. Mulville stated, “The 2010 – 2015 Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality in Ireland report published last August, highlighted issues at Rogerstown Estuary, which is a Natura 2000 International site, being both a Special […]