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Social Democrats Co-Leader Catherine Murphy has said the process leading up to the pending announcement later this week of the National Development Plan is fundamentally undemocratic and she called out Fianna Fáil for what she described as their attempts to straddle both sides of the fence on this issue. Deputy Murphy said that politicians from […]

The Social Democrats today set out detailed proposals for a Renters’ Charter to protect tenants and make sure that our rental sector provides secure and affordable homes. The 12-point charter is being unveiled at the party’s second National Conference in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The event opened last night with a […]

The Social Democrats’ second National Conference – to be held in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin this weekend – marks a year of significant growth and progress for the party. The event will see members and supporters from around the country gather on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th January to discuss the party’s policies and priorities […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has received a reply from Irish Rail stating that they have not been provided with funding for any new trains or carriages for 2018, 2019 or 2020. The response came on foot of a series of questions that Deputy Murphy has posed to the Minister for Transport, the National Transport […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has called on the Minister for Transport to review the funding scheme for Wheelchair Accessible Taxis so as to ensure that every area has a sufficient allocation of accessible vehicles to meet demand. Research undertaken by Deputy Murphy shows that allocation of wheelchair accessible taxis across Counties is very unequal […]

Social Democrats Co-Leader Catherine Murphy has said it is completely unacceptable that the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, is unable to provide accurate figures regarding the amount of housing units built last year. She said that despite this lack of knowledge the Minister was irresponsibly making unfounded claims about Government exceeding its targets. Catherine Murphy […]

Catherine Murphy, Co-Leader of the Social Democrats has said that recent parliamentary replies to her and many contacts from the public has confirmed that there are significant capacity issues across our entire public transport system. Deputy Murphy said that while the replies received by her detail investment in the heavy rail network, it is clear […]

The projected €3 billion Government spend in rent subsidies over the next five years represents an unsustainable approach to solving the housing crisis, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy said: “Official projections show that the Government will spend some €535 million on rent support programmes this year for lower-income families in […]

The Social Democrats have said white-collar crime reforms announced today by the government are welcome and long-overdue but lack critical detail and continue the fragmented approach to tackling corruption in all its forms. The party’s joint leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “Several of the new measures are welcome and long-overdue, especially the proposed overhaul of […]

The collapse of yet another trial involving a former Anglo Irish Bank executive further damages public confidence in the State’s ability and resolve  to prosecute white collar crime, the Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy said: “It’s not even six months since the trial of Anglo’s former Chief Executive Seán Fitzpatrick […]

Opinion: Catherine Murphy TD We need to talk about Local Property Tax. Not in a headline grabbing way that reduces it to a simple question of how much more you or I may have to pay when the controversial tax is reviewed in 2019. Not in a populist way that pits counties with higher house […]

Special measures are needed to help young couples with children who bought apartments during the boom and now find themselves ‘stuck’ in unsuitable accommodation and unable to purchase family-sized homes, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy said: “People, including many young couples, who bought small apartments during the boom, are now […]

Commenting on the public transport fare changes published today by the National Transport Authority, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “While the fare decreases announced today are certainly welcome, I can see no justification for the increases in train fares and some commuter bus fares, especially as some of these are above the rate […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD today urged the Government and Central Bank to call in the Gardaí to investigate the conduct of bankers in the overcharging of tracker mortgages. Speaking today, Deputy Murphy said: “This seems to me nothing short of thievery. In any other such circumstances you would expect the Gardaí to be […]