News

The government must act now to prevent any further damage Two separate reports have today confirmed our worst fears about the impact of the pandemic on marginalised children, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting following the publication of the Annual Report of Ireland’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and […]

A single junior doctor cannot be scapegoated for this entire scandal. HSE CEO Paul Reid must ensure there is accountability among the senior management team for the scandal at South Kerry CAMHS, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “HSE CEO Paul Reid appeared on Morning Ireland today, but was unable to provide any […]

The government must remove these 62,000 holiday homes from the credit scheme The government must clarify if it intends to spend more than €6 million on electricity subsidies for holiday home owners, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “We know we have a cost of living crisis and the high cost of energy […]

The Minister’s record to date is one of failure. No amount of spin can change this. The latest update on the Housing for All plan reveals the Government is rich on promises for the future and exceptionally poor on actual delivery, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “No affordable purchase homes were delivered […]

The refusal grounds are so all encompassing, they make a mockery of the stated purpose of the legislation. The government’s working from home Bill is an employers’ charter which only serves to undermine the right to work from home, according to Social Democrats Enterprise Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “I was concerned, before the legislation was published, […]

Nphet made it very clear there was no longer any public health justification for retaining visitor restrictions The Health Minister must give a clear direction that visiting restrictions at hospitals and nursing homes should be lifted, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Last week, in their letter to government, Nphet made it very clear […]

Eoin’s decision to join the Social Democrats is further evidence that the party is continuing to grow Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall have welcomed the decision of Independent South Dublin County Councillor Eoin Ó Broin to join the Social Democrats. Cllr. Ó Broin said: “My primary goal in politics is delivering change […]

There can be no going back to old working practises The government must introduce legislation that gives workers a legal right to work remotely – not merely the right to request flexible working arrangements, according to Social Democrats Enterprise Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “The pandemic has been hugely difficult for people right across society – but […]

We have navigated our way through the maze of this pandemic using public health advice – and that advice has now identified an exit The removal of almost all covid restrictions is a historic moment in our battle against covid, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Covid has consumed all of our lives […]

The government must urgently introduce a tax on vacant buildings New figures confirming there are more than 100,000 vacant and derelict homes across the country are further evidence the government’s housing policy is failing, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was commenting after GeoDirectory published new figures which revealed 90,158 dwellings […]

The issue of a subsidy for antigen tests must urgently be revisited The government must publish a long-term strategy on how it plans to manage the pandemic throughout the year, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “We are now in the third year, and fourth wave, of covid but no long-term strategy to […]

It is a shocking indictment of the State’s treatment of disabled people that three transport support schemes are effectively closed Personal transport supports for people with disabilities are now virtually non-existent, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, said: “Today it was reported that […]

We need to provide students with more choice than just the traditional Leaving Cert Education Minister Norma Foley must urgently make a decision on the format of this year’s state examinations and immediately publish a report from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) on permanent reform of the Leaving Cert, according to Social […]

By contrast, a 12-hour walk-in clinic is operating in Cork  The HSE must explain why there are no walk-in clinics for boosters for over 40s anywhere in Co. Dublin today, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “There are no walk-in clinics for boosters for over 40s operating anywhere in Co. Dublin today. The […]