News

Tragically, there was an 80pc increase in the deaths of single homeless people in 2020 We need a sustained and co-ordinated effort to reduce the number of deaths of homeless people, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was reacting to an interim report by Dr Austin O’Carroll, Mortality in Single Homeless Population […]

Many of those working in the Arts are reliant on the PUP, which the government plans to cut from September Plans to introduce a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists are welcome – if overdue, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts, Catherine Martin, has committed to “prioritise” […]

These payments are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people whose jobs were a casualty of the pandemic The government has reneged on a promise there would be no cliff edge when it came to the withdrawal of the PUP, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The government repeatedly promised there would be […]

We need, as a matter of urgency, to establish a public realm taskforce on Dublin City Council  Dublin City Council’s approach to an outdoor summer is akin to the promotion of abstinence as a sex education policy – it won’t work, according to Social Democrats Councillor Catherine Stocker. “We have been told, by our political […]

The large number of people sleeping rough in Dublin is an indictment of the government’s failed housing policy, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “New data from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive shows 125 people are sleeping rough – an indictment of this Government and its failed housing policies. No one should be sleeping on […]

Encouraging the everyday use of Irish will ensure it survives as a living language Fewer than 4pc of the social media posts from most government departments are in Irish, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns said: “Each government department has its own social media channels on various platforms, so one would expect […]

How can we expect this government to solve the rental crisis when they don’t seem to understand their own legislation? Rent hikes of 8pc across the country must be stopped, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “A rent freeze implemented for the duration of the pandemic is set to be […]

Is the reluctance, to offer people an alternate vaccine for their second dose, driven by supply or by science? The government should publish its supply forecasts for the coming months for each vaccine currently in use, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Previously, the Department of Health published vaccine supply projections, which detailed […]

The range of problems facing the industry have now become a perfect storm, threatening its future viability The fishing industry is facing its biggest ever crisis, according to Social Democrats Agriculture Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “Today’s flotilla of 50 trawlers in Cork is a visual representation of the extent of the frustration felt by the fishing […]

An Bord Pleanála reached a humane decision on this sensitive matter An Bord Pleanála’s refusal to grant planning permission for a large development on the site of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home is the correct decision, according to Social Democrats TD, and member of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee, Holly Cairns. Holly said: “I welcome […]

The housing crisis is the most important issue facing the country – and it will not be solved by Fingal County Council enriching a private developer, according to Social Democrats Councillors Joan Hopkins and Paul Mulville. “The proposal facing Fingal councillors today was a Hobson’s choice. We were asked to approve the sale of a […]

The vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment was a momentous day for women’s rights in this country – but much work remains to be done, according to Social Democrats Social Justice Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “Today is the third anniversary of the vote to amend the Eighth Amendment – a vote that dismantled decades of stigma, […]

It is time to expel the Israeli ambassador, according to Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, said: “Israel is an apartheid state engaged in a brutal assault of Gaza, the most densely packed internment camp in the world. More than 230 people have already been killed in this bombardment, the majority of […]

Ordinarily, during a crisis, a high-level emergency task force – the National Emergence Coordination Group (NECG) – is assembled to manage the response. Where is the NECG? The cyber-attack is putting at-risk children at increased risk of abuse and neglect, according to Social Democrats Spokesperson on Children Jennifer Whitmore. “Tusla’s computer system has been completely […]