News

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall has said that the Tánaiste’s action in leaking a confidential document was unworthy of his office, and his handling of the incident was unacceptable. Speaking during the confidence motion in the Dáil, Deputy Shortall said: “The situation we are dealing with here should never have arisen. The Tánaiste, while Taoiseach […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, has highlighted the failure of the Strategic Housing Development process and has called on the Government to end it immediately. Deputy Cian O’Callaghan said: “The Department of Housing today told the Oireachtas Housing Committee that only 29% of planning permissions granted under the Strategic […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has called on the Government to legislate for a ban on imported fracked gas following today’s High Court decision to quash all permissions for Shannon LNG. Deputy Whitmore said: “After a 13-year battle, Shannon LNG has lost all permissions to build its fracked gas […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for International Affairs, Cian O’Callaghan TD, has welcomed confirmation by major news networks that Democrat Joe Biden has won the US Presidential Election. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “It is now clear that Joe Biden will be elected as the next President of the United States. This is an important victory for the values […]

Social Democrats International Affairs spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, has welcomed the historic deal to link funding in the forthcoming EU budget to respect for the rule of law. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The deal to link the new EU budget to respect for the rule of law is very welcome. The Irish […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, is calling on the Government to act on the findings of a new report by moving away from the private sector provision of social housing in favour of a more cost-effective direct build model. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “This new report from the Irish Government […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has accused the Government of relying on a ‘fingers crossed’ approach to managing the risks posed by international travel at our ports and airports. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Murphy said: “Ireland is due to sign up to the European traffic light system for international travel […]

Social Democrats TD for Cork South-West, Holly Cairns, has welcomed confirmation from the Taoiseach in the Dáil today that all survivors of institutional abuse will be able to access their own personal data. Holly said: “Last week, the Government changed its policy to allow people access to their own information. The natural extension is that […]

Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD, today called on the Taoiseach to undertake an immediate review of the code of conduct for office holders in the wake of the Tánaiste’s admission that he leaked a confidential agreement between the Government and the IMO in 2019. Deputy Shortall said: “This episode has been very […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has called for the re-establishment of the Collaborative Forum for Survivors of Mother and Baby and Bethany Homes, which has not met since December 2019. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dáil today. She said: “The Collaborative […]

Social Democrats view with extreme concern allegations made in current edition of the Village Magazine concerning the Tanáiste and the alleged leaking of confidential documents, which appear to have been under Cabinet consideration at the time. Co-leader Róisín Shortall TD called on the Tanáiste to make a statement: “In view of the import of these […]

Social Democrats TD for Cork South-West, Holly Cairns, has cautiously welcomed the Government’s U-turn on the rights of survivors of Mother and Baby Homes to access their personal information but called for the Commission of Investigation report to be released to survivors as soon as possible. Holly said: “Thankfully, after almost two weeks of public […]

Dublin Bay North TD and Social Democrats spokesperson for Housing, Cian O’Callaghan, has said that barriers to accessing emergency accommodation must be removed as homeless figures remain too high. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The latest figures released by the Department of Housing show that the number of people becoming homeless and living in emergency accommodation remains […]

Cork South West TD Holly Cairns has called on the Government to lead by example by providing suitable facilities for public service workers who are breastfeeding. Holly said: “I have been contacted by some mothers who had recently returned to work in the public service but the only space made available for them to express […]