News

Despite lack of public support and cruelty concerns, the Government continues to prop up the greyhound racing industry  Increased State funding for the greyhound racing industry represents a serious setback for animal welfare in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns made her comments ahead of today’s Dáil motion proposing approval of […]

New planning application is deeply insensitive to survivors and deceased children  Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has expressed her opposition to the latest planning application for the former Bessborough mother and baby home estate in Cork city. “I am completely opposed to plans for over 90 apartments by MWB Two Ltd on the Bessborough lands. […]

Government should be supporting women, not restricting their reproductive and healthcare choices An effective ban on homebirths in rural communities will compromise women’s health and put additional pressure on existing services in maternity hospitals, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns again raised the issue in the Dáil today, amid growing public concern […]

Minister’s figures lay bare the scale of injustice involved in flawed redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has renewed her call on the Government to amend its proposed redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes after it emerged that 24,000 former residents will not be […]

Work to provide safe and legal abortion access in Ireland must continue The 10th anniversary of Savita Halappanavar’s death should allow us to reflect on the progress we have made in the reform of our abortion laws, but also on the shortcomings of the legislation as it stands, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Paying […]

At what stage in this process will the penny finally drop for the Minister that this legislation is not fit for purpose?  Government TDs should be allowed a vote of conscience on a controversial Bill giving effect to the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes, according to Holly Cairns of the Social […]

Four years after the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, women’s reproductive healthcare is still not a priority for this Government The Minister for Health must urgently intervene to ensure that every maternity hospital in the State offers access to all legal healthcare options to women seeking abortions, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy […]

The independence, mental health and employment prospects of disabled people is being limited, and in some cases completely erased Almost 10 years after the closure of two vital mobility schemes, the State is continuing to fail disabled people, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on Disability, said: […]

The Government’s cowardly actions will not be forgiven and will serve as a shameful legacy of its term in office The Government’s decision not to oppose the Social Democrats’ private members’ motion on mother and baby homes today has been described by Holly Cairns TD as cynical and cowardly. Deputy Cairns, who introduced the motion […]

Government redress scheme fails to recognise human rights abuses The Social Democrats will bring a private members’ motion before the Dáil tomorrow (Wednesday, October 19), calling for real justice for the survivors of mother and baby homes and a redress scheme that is fit for purpose. The motion asks Dáil Eireann to recognise the grave […]

Early intervention vital to prevent psychiatric inpatient admissions The alarming rise in psychiatric inpatient admissions for children and adolescents presenting with eating disorders requires an immediate Government response, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns made her comments after figures from the Health Research Board’s (HRB) National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System revealed that […]

Increased funding for sector flies in the face of public opinion  The Government has failed to listen to animal welfare organisations by yet again increasing funding for the greyhound racing industry in this week’s budget, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, […]

One-off €500 disability payment smacks of token gesture Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has criticised the Government for failing to address the cost of having a disability in Budget 2023. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s Disability spokesperson, said: “As recently as July, the Government passed my motion calling for an increase in the Disability […]

Social Democrats propose weekly Cost of Disability payment People with disabilities could receive up to €50 a week extra under pre-budget proposals put forward by the Social Democrats. Holly Cairns TD, the party’s spokesperson on Disability, said: “Despite improvements in funding in recent years, the experience of many disabled people in Ireland continues to be […]