News

It is unacceptable that we are learning about these major deficiencies in our abortion service via leaks to the media Health Minister Stephen Donnelly must immediately publish a review into abortion services which has found it could “collapse” at any moment, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “A leaked copy of a review […]

Report paints a particularly bleak picture for households reliant on the Housing Assistance Payment  The latest ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the Simon Communities of Ireland further highlights why the Government needs to extend the eviction ban, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: […]

Recommendations must now be implemented without delay The pattern of shameful behaviour identified in the report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces must never be allowed happen again, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on Defence, said: “Today’s report […]

Nobody who pays their rent on time should live in constant fear of homelessness Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan will today introduce his Tenancy Protection Bill 2023, which aims to put a stop to mass evictions. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “My Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 is about protecting people from […]

Under-resourcing of planning appeals board is hampering the delivery of new homes Ireland’s planning system must be properly resourced to speed up the delivery of badly needed homes, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “In the midst of our worst-ever housing crisis, it is difficult […]

The government must stop misrepresenting figures and patting itself on the back for failure The Government is failing miserably to achieve its own retrofitting targets, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was speaking after the SEAI published its Home Energy Upgrades 2022 annual report. “The SEAI published its 2022 report today […]

Record house prices, and a chronically poor supply of homes, are the perfect breeding conditions for gazumping to thrive New legislation is required to outlaw the practice of gazumping, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Today, there are media reports of a vendor backing out of agreements with seven home buyers, who were […]

We cannot have a situation in which children are growing up in hotels and tourists are holidaying in homes The Government must begin a crackdown on the short-term letting sector now – it can’t wait for another year for a new registration system to be agreed by the EU, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson […]

People in rural areas are more reliant on their cars and make longer journeys A new grant scheme to help motorists in rural Ireland buy electric vehicles should be rolled out, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “There is currently a grant of up to €5,000 available for those who purchase an electric […]

This is an obscene amount of profit for the ESB when so many of its customers are living in penury. The government must ring-fence windfall profits in ESB to support the hundreds and thousands of people now living in energy poverty, according to Social Democrats Energy Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “I attended a […]

Hate crime legislation must be enacted and implemented as a matter of priority A huge increase in hate crimes across the country is shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats Justice Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “Hate crimes, and hate related incidents, increased by nearly 30pc last year. Almost 600 incidents were recorded, nearly 200 more than […]

Long-awaited report is a damning indictment of organisation’s failure to protect children  The findings of a report into child sexual abuse within St John Ambulance have been described as devastating by Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Children, said: “Dr Geoffey Shannon’s report has been a long time […]

Clarity on guidelines urgently needed to avoid risk of book shortages in classrooms in September The Minister for Education must immediately outline how the Government’s free books scheme for primary schools will operate to avoid classroom chaos next September, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on Education, […]

Arrival of FV Margiris off south-west coast met with dismay by environmentalists and fishing communities Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for on-board monitoring of fishing activity off the south-west coast of Ireland by the world’s second largest super-trawler. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, said: “The FV Margiris, […]