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The Government must develop a proper just transition plan for farmers to help them reach their climate targets The Government must ensure there is a just transition and a fair deal for farmers as they face the emission challenges ahead, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Farmers will play a major role in […]

It’s no wonder farmers are afraid of what this will mean for their families and their businesses – the Government is failing to be honest with them The failure of the Government to come to a decision on sectoral emissions ceilings is doing farming families a disservice, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. […]

It now costs an average of €27,120 per year to rent a house in Dublin – this is utterly unacceptable and unsustainable The latest Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) Rent Index – revealing rents grew by over 9.2% in the last year – shows rents are completely out of control, says Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan […]

While this government excels at climate rhetoric, it fails miserably at climate action Today’s EPA report, which reveals our carbon emissions are going up instead of down, must act as a wakeup call for the government, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Today’s EPA report confirms that our carbon emissions are going up, […]

It is not that long ago that the Irish public bailed out the banks, to the tune of €60 billion The decision by AIB to remove cash services from 70 branches around the country will disproportionately negatively impact people in rural Ireland and elderly people, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The decision […]

This refusal to be honest with farmers is putting them in a very vulnerable position Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is in denial about the contribution agriculture will have to make to our carbon budgets, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Ranges for sectoral emissions targets were published last November with the Climate Action […]

The government must stop its dithering and delay and publish the sectoral emissions ceilings The failure of the government to publish sectoral emissions ceilings is deeply concerning, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “The unprecedented heatwave and raging wildfires across Europe this week have underscored the catastrophic impact of climate change – and […]

On every metric, the housing crisis is getting worse The latest Housing for All progress report shows only 16 of the 30 Housing for All actions promised for Q2 2022 were completed. Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said: “The Government has failed to deliver almost half of its promised actions in the Housing for […]

Child poverty has lifelong consequences – limiting children’s education, their aspirations, their wellbeing and their potential. A special Oireachtas Committee to tackle worsening child poverty rates must be established, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore made her remarks as the Children’s Rights Alliance launched its Child Poverty Monitor – a new […]

It is not acceptable that abortion care is still based on a postcode lottery A new report which finds Ireland’s abortion law is traumatising women underscores the need for urgent reform, according to Social Democrats Social Justice Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “A new study from Trinity College, the Unplanned Pregnancy and Abortion Care (UnPAC) study, found […]

The Minister must explain why he is going to guillotine this legislation with virtually no debate, no scrutiny and no oversight Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien must explain why he is ramming through planning amendments that will seriously limit the ability of the public to challenge decisions of An Bord Pleanála – in advance of reviews […]

We cannot allow a situation to develop in which developmental assessments for babies are based on a postcode lottery The HSE must explain why developmental assessments for babies and children, from three months to 48 months, have been withdrawn in Dublin West, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “It has come to my […]

People are becoming homeless in areas which are not designated as Rent Pressure Zones The Government’s decision to limit stricter controls on short-term lets to Rent Pressure Zones is a huge mistake, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan “The Social Democrats have been calling for stricter controls on short-term lets for many years, […]

We do not know if Mr Hyde had sight of a draft copy of the Farrell review before he tendered his resignation Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien must make a statement to the Dáil outlining a clear timeline for the publication of the Farrell review into An Bord Pleanála, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian […]