News

The Social Democrats have said white-collar crime reforms announced today by the government are welcome and long-overdue but lack critical detail and continue the fragmented approach to tackling corruption in all its forms. The party’s joint leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “Several of the new measures are welcome and long-overdue, especially the proposed overhaul of […]

Commenting on a European Commission study which shows that Irish third-level students pay the second-highest college fees in Europe, Councillor Gary Gannon, the Social Democrats’ Spokesperson on Education Equality and Access said: “Ireland is clearly at the bottom of the class in Europe when it comes to college fees for undergraduate students. Our undergraduate students are charged […]

The collapse of yet another trial involving a former Anglo Irish Bank executive further damages public confidence in the State’s ability and resolve  to prosecute white collar crime, the Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy said: “It’s not even six months since the trial of Anglo’s former Chief Executive Seán Fitzpatrick […]

Opinion: Catherine Murphy TD We need to talk about Local Property Tax. Not in a headline grabbing way that reduces it to a simple question of how much more you or I may have to pay when the controversial tax is reviewed in 2019. Not in a populist way that pits counties with higher house […]

The findings of a new study which shows major concern amongst clinicians about political interference in the design of hospital services needs to be taken seriously,  Social Democrats representative Niall Ó Tuathail said today. One GP in the Mid-West said in an interview for the Cork study: “You’ve every local politician with a placard saying ‘oh […]

Special measures are needed to help young couples with children who bought apartments during the boom and now find themselves ‘stuck’ in unsuitable accommodation and unable to purchase family-sized homes, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy said: “People, including many young couples, who bought small apartments during the boom, are now […]

Commenting on the public transport fare changes published today by the National Transport Authority, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “While the fare decreases announced today are certainly welcome, I can see no justification for the increases in train fares and some commuter bus fares, especially as some of these are above the rate […]

Anne-Marie McNally, the Political Director of the Social Democrats, has expressed concern at the connection of Independent News and Media to a major public event on freedom of speech and the conflicts between journalism and the law. Ms McNally questioned the professional judgement of both Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University in choosing to partner […]

Serious questions remain in relation to the financial management of banks in light of the tracker mortgage scandal, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy said: “It is important to look at the tracker mortgage issue from a financial management point of view. AIB would have launched its IPO in June this […]

Rents in Dublin are so shockingly high that many working people are denying themselves basics so they can meet their monthly payments, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy was commenting on new figures from estate agent Sherry FitzGerald which show that renters in Dublin are spending up to 55 per cent […]

A former Church-run Magdalene laundry in Dublin’s north inner city should be converted into a social history museum rather than being sold, Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon said today. Cllr Gannon made the call on the 21st anniversary of the closure of the Gloucester Street Laundry which was run by the Sisters of Our Lady […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Building Standards Councillor Cian O’Callaghan said: “The news that the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála seeking to be relieved of fire safety requirements is very alarming. The Board is asking for permission to drop a water-sprinkler system as well as 60 minute fire resistance […]

The Social Democrats are hosting a public event in Dublin tomorrow [Saturday 21st October 2017] to discuss ways to make the city more democratic. The ‘Democratising Dublin’ open meeting will hear the party’s strong backing for the city to have its own directly elected Mayor. The session will also showcase a recent pilot project in […]

Róisín Shortall TD, the co-leader of the Social Democrats has called on the government to prioritise the introduction of anti-HIV drugs as new figures show the rates of HIV infection continue to rise at alarming levels. Deputy Shortall said: “According to figures from the HSE, there were 508 new cases of HIV in Ireland last […]