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The Social Democrats today called on the government to prioritise the protection of public services and living standards against Brexit. The call was made ahead of the party’s annual Think-In in Dublin, which is exploring ways to tackle living costs, increase capacity in public transport and ensure better work-life balance. Party co-leaders Róisín Shortall TD and […]

The Social Democrats have reacted with dismay to the news that the Government will legally challenge the findings of the Data Protection Commissioner’s report pertaining to the Public Services Card (PSC). The Government are planning to use the courts to defend the continued use of the card and have refused to publish the report as […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed the publication today of the Independent Review Group report into removing private healthcare from public hospitals under the Sláintecare programme for a reformed public health service. Deputy Shortall chaired the special cross-party Oireachtas Committee which agreed the Sláintecare strategy, a key plank of which is the phased […]

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” bb_built=”1″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”excerpt” _builder_version=”3.27.2″ hover_enabled=”0″ disabled=”on” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″] A key test of the success of the plan is whether the public sees an appreciable improvement in policing activity in their communities, especially in anti-social activity.” [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://staging.socialdemocrats.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/4151-347.jpg” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” […]

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”excerpt” _builder_version=”3.9″ disabled=”on”][/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://staging.socialdemocrats.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CarlyBaileyWebsite.jpg” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”3.26.8″ max_width=”84%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”3.26.8″ ul_font_size=”18px” ul_line_height=”1.7em” ol_font_size=”18px” ol_line_height=”1.7em”] “In an era where there is legitimate concern about the use, ownership and manipulation of Big Data, it is astonishing that this Government proceeded to collect and […]

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”excerpt” _builder_version=”3.26.8″ disabled=”on”] I call on the Minister to publish the full engineers reports on all defective schools. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://staging.socialdemocrats.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CarlyBaileyWebsite.jpg” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”3.26.8″ max_width=”84%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”3.26.8″ ul_font_size=”18px” ul_line_height=”1.7em” ol_font_size=”18px” ol_line_height=”1.7em”] “It knocks all parents’ confidence that the schools to which […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children, Cllr Jennifer Whitmore, has said concerted efforts must be made to reduce high back-to-school costs and relieve stress on parents. Cllr Whitmore was commenting on today’s annual Barnardos survey which found that parents are “stressed out, overburdened and fed up” by the high cost of sending children back to school. […]

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Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called for legal changes to allow gardaí to seize and ‘crush’ scrambler and quad bikes being driven dangerously in public spaces. Deputy Shortall made the call in support of today’s report by the Finglas Safety Forum which found that three quarters of residents are very concerned about the […]

The Social Democrats have called on the Minister for Justice to provide urgent clarification in the wake of this week’s shocking High Court ruling which has caused distress and worry among people with pending applications for citizenship. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The High Court ruling that requires residents who apply for Irish […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today welcomed the announced proposals to restructure the HSE to create six new regional health areas, as recommended in the Sláintecare health reform plan. Deputy Shortall said: “This was a key recommendation in the Sláintecare report and was one of the most common issues raised with the all-party Oireachtas […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to provide immediate answers on the latest failures of the CervicalCheck programme. Deputy Shortall was commenting after it emerged that 52 of some 800 women impacted by the reported IT problems in the Quest Diagnostics laboratory have contracted the HPV virus. She […]

Despite the growing problem of sexual violence, figures released to the Social Democrats show that only nine out of the country’s 28 Garda Divisions have specialist units to deal with victims of sexual crime. In response to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Justice and Equality confirmed that there are ten dedicated Divisional Protective Service […]

Social Democrats Kildare Councillor Aidan Farrelly has raised concerns over the role of An Bord Pleanála in an application for a private housing development in Clane which grew from 322 units to 366 after formal input from the Board. The Strategic Housing Development application, which is currently before the national planning authority pending decision, is […]