News

It is extraordinary that the Health Minister has opted to remain overseas while this crisis is escalating Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall has written to the Health Committee requesting that representatives of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE attend an emergency meeting of the Committee tomorrow. Deputy Shortall said: “Health Minister Stephen Donnelly […]

Vulnerable customers and local businesses have been greatly impacted by the erosion of banking services  The Minister for Finance should direct AIB to end the practice of operating cashless branches in parts of the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore made her comments after it emerged that all public bodies are […]

Absence of a defined budget for rehashed proposals is concerning  A new safety plan announced today by the Minister for Justice to tackle street crime in Dublin completely lacks substance and is full of rehashed proposals, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is a TD for Dublin Central, said: “While it […]

Clarity needed on whether census data on population growth was used when allocating additional funds to local authorities Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to publish the methodology used by the working group that reviewed the model of baseline funding to local authorities from Local […]

“The guiding principle that has always informed my work is that healthcare is a human right – not a commodity” Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall has received the inaugural Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award from the Centre for Health Policy and Management at Trinity College Dublin. The Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award recognises the […]

Electric Ireland announcement should just represent the start of a succession of energy price drops for consumers  Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to be given increased powers to investigate prices charged by energy companies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Today’s belated […]

Staffing numbers must also be brought up to required levels  Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the news that retained firefighters have voted to accept proposals from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to resolve their industrial dispute. Deputy Whitmore said: “It is positive to learn today that firefighters, through their union SIPTU, have voted […]

Desperate parents forced to leave children behind in hospitals, special schools and residential centres due to lack of State supports A new report showing that children with complex disabilities are being denied the right to grow up at home with their families should be a source of deep shame and embarrassment for the Government, according […]

For this year’s intake of college students, the joy of receiving CAO offers has been replaced with a fear of not being able to find a place to live  This year’s cohort of third level entrants are facing the greatest student accommodation crisis in the history of the State, according to Social Democrats TD Gary […]

More than 4,000 children and adolescents waiting to access mental health services across all nine CHOs The publication of individual reports for each of the nine Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) provides further insights into the level of dysfunction within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, […]

Failure to provide enough affordable housing has left a generation unable to make their own start in life Census results released today show that the number of adults still living with their parents has skyrocketed under this Government, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: […]

A directly-elected Dublin mayor with vision – and executive powers – is needed more than ever  Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has renewed his call for a directly-elected mayor for the capital after it emerged that Dublin City Council has yet to appoint a permanent replacement for its outgoing chief executive Owen Keegan. Deputy Gannon, […]

Bus Éireann needs to clarify the numbers affected by driver shortages and give a timeline for resolution of the issue  The Social Democrats have called on Bus Éireann and the Department of Education to immediately outline what steps will be taken to address serious shortcomings in the operation of the School Transport Scheme. Jennifer Whitmore, […]

Housing Minister must immediately reinstate no-fault eviction ban Lack of basic protections for renters is contributing to record levels of homelessness, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest figures show there are now 12,847 people living in homeless emergency accommodation. This is the […]