News

Cian O’Callaghan TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Housing and Planning, said today that the decision by the High Court to overturn planning permission for 245 apartments on the former Premier Dairies site in Dublin casts serious doubt over the Strategic Housing Development process. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The High Court quashed the planning permission granted […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said today it beggars belief that the Government has not yet laid out a clear roadmap for the safe reopening of schools at the end of August. Deputy Murphy said: “We are just weeks away from the time when children should begin returning to school and there […]

The Government’s publication of a green list of countries last night has done nothing to clear up widespread public confusion on the issue of foreign travel, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Shortall said: “It has now emerged there were conflicting views within the Cabinet about the merit of publishing […]

Gary Gannon TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Education, has called on the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, to urgently address the Dáil and provide details of the Government’s plans for reopening schools in five weeks’ time Deputy Gannon said: “Yesterday I attended a meeting between Minister Foley and Opposition spokespeople for Education. Following […]

Holly Cairns TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Higher Education, says the Government’s announcement of a €160m funding package for the third level sector falls far short of what is required. Deputy Cairns said: “While any increase in financial supports for students would be welcome under normal circumstances, we are not living in ordinary times […]

The long overdue publication of a green list of 15 countries is meaningless and likely to add to public confusion about the public health message from NPHET not to undertake non-essential foreign travel, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Shortall said: “The publication of the green list brings no real […]

Speaking after the conclusion of the EU Council summit this morning, Holly Cairns TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Agriculture, said: “In real terms, CAP for the next seven years is going to be down by about 9%, which is worrying for Ireland’s agricultural sector. “It is essential that the Government devises strategies to maintain […]

Criticising the absence of a coherent Government strategy on tackling the potential importation of coronavirus, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD called on the Taoiseach to follow the advice of NPHET and deal comprehensively with inward travel. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Róisín Shortall TD said: “The Taoiseach has not dispelled the huge […]

Schools are facing a wave of trauma Speaking ahead of a briefing for Opposition spokespersons by the Minister for Education this afternoon, Gary Gannon TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Education, said: “It’s hard to see anything other than chaos unfolding as our schools attempt to reopen in the autumn. The failure is one of […]

Welcoming that an EU deal on a Covid19 recovery package and the EU Budget has been agreed, Cian O’Callaghan TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on European and Foreign Affairs, said: “The agreement of a large European response to the Covid19 economic crisis is positive, but the deal and the manner in which the deal was made, […]

The Social Democrats have today announced spokesperson roles for the 33rd Dáil. Co-leader Catherine Murphy said: “In announcing our spokesperson roles today, I am confirming that the Social Democrats will continue to work as we did in the last Dáil – by being constructive and practical but also by not being afraid to ask the tough […]

Calling on the Government and Minister for Children to outline clearly the long-term plans to support the childcare sector and put children, not the system, first, Social Democrats spokesperson for children, Jennifer Whitmore TD said: “The continuing Government uncertainty on the funding package to support the childcare sector for the period beyond the end of August is […]

Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan T.D., responding to reports of a Government decision on a short extension to the ban on evictions and rent increases stated: “Media reports of a very short extension of the ban on evictions and rent increases until August 1st followed by a ban on evictions until January will heighten […]

Holly Cairns TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Agriculture, said today that farmers need to be supported by the Government to help prevent workplace accidents. The Cork South West TD made her comments as Farm Safety Week got underway and shocking statistics on farm accidents were released by the National Office of Clinical Audit. The […]