News

Responding to remarks today from the Taoiseach that the Leaving Certificate needs to be reformed, Social Democrats spokesperson for Education, Gary Gannon TD, commented: “The needs of the 2021 students must be the impetus for lasting change when it comes to the Leaving Certificate examinations. “The Department of Education needs to hear the calls from […]

The Social Democrats Housing spokesperson, Cian O’Callaghan TD, is calling on the Government to take proactive steps to address the issue of Brexit-related construction cost increases. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “We need action on the part of Government to address Brexit-related increases in construction costs. Steel, for example, which is imported via Northern Ireland, is now […]

– Minister must set out return to school plan Education Minister Norma Foley needs to immediately reconvene talks and deliver a return to school plan for students with additional needs, according to Social Democrats Education spokesperson Gary Gannon. Commenting, Deputy Gannon said: “There is a need to identify exactly what measures must be put in […]

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins will be calling for an award-winning local authority project, called ‘Participatory Budgeting,’ to be expanded into Fingal County when she puts forward a motion at this month’s council meeting. According to Cllr Hopkins, the idea for ‘Participatory Budgeting’ is that local residents get a direct say on which local projects […]

Last night’s RTÉ investigates programme put a spotlight on a homelessness crisis that has persisted for far too long, according to Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD. Calling on the Government to commit to ending homelessness, Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Last night’s RTÉ investigates programme exposed a homeless support system that is badly broken. We […]

Responding to the findings of a recent independent review of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said: “The independent review found that the Climate Change Advisory Council has been reactive to Government policy rather than proactive; has too many heads of State agencies as members; and has not communicated well with […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has welcomed the Citizens’ Assembly’s support for a publicly funded childcare model. Deputy Whitmore said: “The Social Democrats have been calling for a public model for some time. We need a new model of childcare which is responsive to the needs of families, workers and children. “Budget […]

Speaking ahead of tonight’s RTÉ Investigates programme on the lived experience of rough sleepers in Ireland, Social Democrats spokesperson for Housing, Cian O’Callaghan TD, commented: “Research carried out by RTÉ Investigates for the ‘Stuck in the Rough’ documentary found that 27% of the people sleeping rough said that they were turned away from an emergency […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has expressed concern over a number of issues which have come to light today. These include delivery delays of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; reports of frontline staff in Nenagh Hospital not receiving a vaccine; and an appeal to the Irish Government from First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy […]

Cllr Chris Pender has called on the Government to make the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation report available to survivors in the most accessible ways possible. Earlier this week, the commission reported on the harrowing deaths of over 9,000 babies in institutions across Ireland. Following on from the State apology, Newbridge based Social […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Education, Gary Gannon TD, has said that Education Minister Norma Foley needs to spell out a safe and speedy return to the classroom for students with additional needs when she addresses the Dáil this afternoon. Deputy Gannon said: “The immediate focus now must be on a pathway to resolve the education […]

Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD, has called on the Government to aim for a safe level of daily Covid-19 cases before making a decision to lift current restrictions. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Shortall said: “We now have record daily case numbers and I think it is important for the Government […]

Reacting to the Taoiseach’s apology to survivors of Mother and Baby Homes today, Social Democrats TD for Cork South-West, Holly Cairns, commented: “This apology is long overdue and comes after decades of silence, decades of shame, decades of misogynistic control and abuse perpetrated and facilitated by State and church authorities. “Ireland’s history of using shame […]

– Government will be judged by its actions, not words. Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, has said that the apology from the Taoiseach today, while necessary, is not enough and that the Government will be judged by its actions, not words. Deputy Whitmore commented: “The commission’s report – and the Government’s response to it […]