News

A number of significant Government policy failures in relation to older people’s services have ultimately cost lives in the Covid-19 crisis, the Covid-19 Committee heard today from Deputy Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. She made the point during today’s question session with Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, and Meryvn […]

West Cork TD, Holly Cairns, Social Democrats spokesperson on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, expressed deep concern at the clusters of COVID-19 in Irish meat processing plants and has called on the Minister to tackle the power of the beef processing industry. Examination of the alarming rate of COVID-19 infections in this sector needs to […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Biodiversity Deputy Jennifer Whitmore called on the Minister for Heritage to establish a special wildlife crimes unit within the Gardaí. The call comes on national biodiversity week after mass Buzzard kills and large scale deliberate fires in Wicklow. Deputy Whitmore said “we declared a national climate change and biodiversity emergency last […]

Responding a survey of childcare providers by Early Childhood Ireland published today, SocDems spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, called on the Department of Children to urgently rethink their planning for re-opening of the childcare sector. Whitmore said: “The approach to reopening the childcare sector has been beset with problems. This latest survey shows that […]

Social Democrats T.D. for Dublin Bay North,  Cian O’Callaghan called for more Gardai to be deployed to North Dublin to prevent attacks by large gatherings of youths. Cian O’Callaghan T.D. said: ‘It’s appalling to see a teenager attacked by 30 other youths with hammers. Unfortunately this isn’t an isolated event. There has been a pattern […]

Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore has today called on the Minister for Children and the Minister for Health to include a child psychologist or child development expert on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). Deputy Whitmore says: “On NPHET there is a range of public health science experts tasked with […]

On World Bee Day, SocDems spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, calls for a mind-shift on how we think of urban green patches and gardens. Deputy Whitmore said: “Our bees are under threat. They and other pollinators are key component of our eco-systems. None of us would survive without them. The increasing reduction […]

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed An Post’s recent move to expand the reduced postage rate for all businesses – originally only available to independent bookshops as part of a collaboration between An Post and Bookselling Ireland. Whitmore had previously called on An Post to roll out the initiative to other businesses affected by COVID19 […]

Social Democrats T.D. for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan has expressed serious concern about the potential job losses in Dublin and Cork airports as the DAA CEO warns that up to 1,000 jobs may be cut. He called on the state owned company to rethink its plan citing clear alternatives like the short term deferral […]

Holly Cairns TD and Cork County Councillor Ross O’Connell have written to MEPs on the Fisheries Committee to allow CCTV on supertrawlers to provide greater monitoring of their activities. Voting on the revised Fisheries Regulation will allow for this additional transparency measure to help protect sea life and Irish fishing communities. Uplift has led a […]

Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson and T.D. for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan welcomes the new report on home repossessions by Dr Padraic Kenna Director of the NUIG Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy and calls on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to facilitate the implement its recommendations. The report highlights the […]

Free Flu Vaccine for children welcome but national vaccination database also required – Whitmore Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Health that the Flu Vaccine will be available to all children free of charge. This is something the Social Democrats have previously called for […]

Ireland is facing a huge demand for personal protective equipment over the next year as a result of Covid-19, with an estimated cost of €1 billion to be allocated for PPE. Given the huge cost this poses, Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Minister for Health to establish […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore has called on the government to urgently develop workable plans for the provision of childcare for frontline healthcare workers. The call comes following the recent announcement from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs that their proposed outreach scheme is unworkable. Deputy Whitmore has written to the Oireachtas […]