News

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore will next week introduce the Social Democrats’ Dáil motion which seeks to extend the timeframe of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission by one year. The Dáil motion was submitted in response to the revelation that 550 recorded testimonies of mother and baby homes’ survivors were destroyed by the Commission. […]

Commenting on Government proposals for an equity loans scheme, Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD said: “The Minister for Housing is burying his head in the sand and ignoring numerous warnings that his proposed equity loans scheme will push up house prices. “Serious warnings and reservations about the Minister’s proposed equity loan scheme have […]

Social Democrats TDs Jennifer Whitmore and Holly Cairns have called for clarity on a recent advertisement by Coillte looking to buy bare land and land with immature forestry. The advert, which has been circulating on social media platforms, also says the semi-state company’s position is to sell land that is no longer suitable for its […]

Commenting on the decision by Natwest to withdraw Ulster Bank from Ireland, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The outcome will have grave and serious implications and it represents very bad news for customers, staff and banking in Ireland. The news will be of huge concern to the bank’s one million customers, causing uncertainty about their banking needs. […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed a proposed nationwide ban on smoky coal and restrictions on the sale of turf and unseasoned wood but says that any new regulations must be poverty-proofed. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Along with emissions from transport, solid fuel is one […]

Commenting on the Government’s confirmation of arrangements for this year’s Leaving Certificate examinations, Social Democrats spokesperson for Education, Gary Gannon TD, said: “The Government has failed this cohort of Leaving Certificate students who have endured high levels of stress and anxiety due to all the uncertainty surrounding this year’s exams. I welcome that the Minister […]

The Social Democrats have written to the Office of the Data Protection Commission requesting that they examine the destruction of survivors’ recorded testimonies by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. Jennifer Whitmore TD, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The simple fact is that 550 testimonies have been destroyed. While […]

In the Dáil today, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan, called on the Taoiseach to intervene in resolving the delay in starting the Stardust Inquest. Deputy O’Callaghan asked if the Minister for Justice would meet with the families’ legal representative to resolve the issue of funding so that the inquest can begin. […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD has called for the Land Development Agency Bill to be amended so that 100% of the homes built on public land are affordable or social. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “If the Minister for Housing is committed to providing affordable homes for first-time buyers, he would ensure that 100% of […]

The Social Democrats have this week submitted a Dáil motion calling for CETA and the Investor Court System to be scrutinised by all relevant Oireachtas committees, not just one. The motion states that given the breadth and scope of CETA, there are potential implications for various issues, including workers’ rights, labour standards, food safety, agriculture […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore says it is baffling that the Minister for Children has refused to extend the term of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to allow for a full investigation into the deletion of survivors’ recorded testimonies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, had proposed a […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD has expressed serious concerns about the Land Development Bill which will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The Land Development Agency Bill will facilitate the privatisation of public land through the back door. This will drive up the cost of homes built on public land. […]

Amid expectations that the Cabinet will sign off on a dual approach to the Leaving Certificate this week, Social Democrats Education spokesperson Gary Gannon TD has called for clarity, communication and contingency for any assessment plans. Commenting today, Deputy Gannon said: “Leaving Certificate students have made their voices heard in terms of what they want […]

The Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD has urged the Minister for Housing to rethink and redesign his affordable housing plans, in particular the shared equity loans. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The experts are now lining up to tell the Minister for Housing that some of his affordable housing plans will actually make housing more […]