News

We cannot rely on the Catholic Church to voluntarily relinquish control of the education system. The government is paying lip-service to the idea of a fully inclusive education system, according Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon was responding to a report today noting the government’s plan to provide 400 multi-denominational primary schools by […]

The Minister should clarify if we have sufficient vaccine supply to offer choice to the over 60s cohort Further consideration must be given to the feasibility of mixing and matching vaccine doses for the over 60s, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The only vaccine the over 60s cohort was offered was AstraZeneca […]

The Data Protection Commission should immediately issue a statement on whether this practice is GDPR compliant Reports that a prominent estate agent is demanding copies of bank statements, before it will arrange viewings of homes, are extremely concerning, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The extent of personal banking information that is reportedly […]

The pandemic has decimated the aviation sector, but supports that could have been put in place to cushion the blow have not been implemented. Stobart Air ceasing operations is a devastating blow to workers and the regions it serviced, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. “The announcement by Stobart Air, that it has ceased […]

An Irish solution to an Irish problem was supposed to be an artefact of history Confirmation today that nearly 200 women had to travel to the UK last year for abortion services is evidence that the law needs to be reviewed, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “Most women who needed abortion care were […]

Our existing data centres will account for 33pc of all electricity consumption by 2030 The government’s support of data centres has created a monster that is now out of control, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore addressed the issue today at the Oireachtas Climate Committee, which is currently debating amendments to […]

Minor tweaks won’t cut it anymore – renters want real and substantial reform Today’s cabinet decision to extend limited COVID-19 tenant protections will only provide assistance to a tiny minority of tenants, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Today’s decision to extend the COVID-19 tenant protections will be cold comfort for the vast […]

What is presented as the truth is, at best, heavily disputed and, at worst, a whitewashed fiction  It is astonishing that the Children’s Minster is still standing over the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes – despite conceding its members misapplied the law, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. […]

Climate Action Bill pays lip service to the concept of ‘just transition’  Climate action cannot come at the expense of those workers and communities who can least afford it, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, said: “The Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action […]

The members of this Commission have steadfastly refused to appear before our Committee to answer questions The Mother and Baby Homes report has rewritten Irish history and must be repudiated by the government, according to Social Democrats TD, and Oireachtas Children’s Committee member, Holly Cairns. “Following the participation of one of the members of the […]

The Minister has distinguished himself by refusing to listen to the advice of experts A new ESRI report has confirmed what most of us already knew – the government’s housing policy is doomed to fail, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “This landmark ESRI report echoes what the Social Democrats have repeatedly stated: […]

In this by-election, the people of Dublin Bay South can send a powerful message The Dublin Bay South by-election is about housing and the quality of all of our lives as we emerge from lockdown, according to Social Democrats candidate Sarah Durcan. “This by-election is not only a referendum on this government, but on a […]

Tragically, there was an 80pc increase in the deaths of single homeless people in 2020 We need a sustained and co-ordinated effort to reduce the number of deaths of homeless people, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was reacting to an interim report by Dr Austin O’Carroll, Mortality in Single Homeless Population […]

Many of those working in the Arts are reliant on the PUP, which the government plans to cut from September Plans to introduce a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists are welcome – if overdue, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts, Catherine Martin, has committed to “prioritise” […]