News

As children return to school tomorrow after the Christmas break, schools, parents and crèches need clear guidance from the HSE on how to prevent the spread of influenza, the Social Democrats’ spokesperson on Children, Councillor Jennifer Whitmore, said today. Councillor Whitmore said: “Many parents I have spoken to over the past week are concerned about how […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has described today’s record high levels of hospital overcrowding as disgraceful, predictable and avoidable. Deputy Shortall was commenting on figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation which show that the number of people on trolleys and wards awaiting hospital beds has risen to a new high of 677. […]

After a night of distributing and stacking donated sandbags to Galway residents and businesses, Social Democrats candidate Niall Ó Tuathail, says Galway Councils were “simply not good enough” and “need to learn from this for future floods”. Following damaging Tuesday evening floods, there were worries of further flooding during the high tide at 5.30a.m. on […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said rent pressure zones have failed to prevent soaring rental prices driving more people into homelessness and must now be scrapped and replaced with nationwide rent caps. Deputy Murphy was commenting on data from the Residential Tenancies Board released today which shows that the average rent of new […]

The Social Democrats have called on the government to commit to the publication early next year of a referendum bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD was a member of the cross-party committee which deliberated for 13 weeks and considered […]

The Social Democrats in Cork have selected general election candidates for three constituencies in the county. The candidates are (left to right):  Cork North West, Ciarán McCarthy; Cork North Central, Sinéad Halpin; and Cork South Central, Patricia Dwyer. 19 December 2017

Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon has accused Dublin City Council of adding insult to injury by making the funding of a major redevelopment project already promised for Dublin’s north east inner city contingent on the sale of the former Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street. Councillor Gannon said: “The deputy chief executive of Dublin City […]

The Social Democrats have urged Ryanair to meet with the Irish pilots’ union Impact as soon as possible to ensure that progress can be made in relation to the ongoing industrial dispute. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “Ryanair’s statement today that it intends to recognise trade unions is potentially a very significant one […]

The Social Democrats have warmly welcomed the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment to repeal the Constitutional ban on abortion and legislate for termination without restriction up to 12 weeks. Party co-leader Catherine Murphy TD, who is a member of the committee, said: “The Committee’s recommendations are a very significant and […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the barrister-led inquiry into why crucial emails were not sent by the Department of Justice to the Charleton Tribunal must be comprehensive and must provide straight answers to the many outstanding questions. Deputy Shortall said: “I welcome the appointment tonight of senior counsel Michael Collins to lead […]

The Social Democrats have said today’s agreement between the UK and the EU on the first phase of Brexit negotiations is a positive start to the process of negotiations which must lead to a fair deal for the entire island of Ireland. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “Today’s agreement allows us to progress […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed the government’s move to raise the compulsory retirement age for public sector workers to 70 – but called for the same flexibility to also apply to private sector employees. Deputy Shortall said: “Many people in their late sixties are valuable members of the workforce, whether they work […]

Plans by Dublin City Council to sell the last remaining Magdalene Laundry site to an international hotel chain show utter disregard for the suffering of women who deserve to be properly commemorated by the State, Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon has said. Councillor Gannon said the site of the former convent on Sean McDermott Street […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Education Equality and Access, Gary Gannon, has said clear steps must be taken to end our two-tier education system which means privately educated young people have greater access to college. Commenting on the publication today of The Irish Times league tables, Councillor Gannon said: “It’s no surprise to see that fee-paying […]