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Welcome for Dáil passage of our Bill to extend unpaid leave

The Social Democrats have welcomed the passage tonight through the Dáil of our Bill to extend unpaid parental leave for working parents. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 allows parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected. This is an increase on […]

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Serious questions in Cervical Check crisis require immediate answers

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said that serious questions remain following today’s cabinet meeting on the Cervical Check crisis and that the public should not have to wait until the outcome of a formal investigation to get answers. Deputy Shortall also called on the government to expedite legislation to allow for a statutory […]

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Shortall calls says government must take immediate action on CervicalCheck crisis

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said immediate steps must be taken to make sure that people affected by the CervicalCheck controversy receive prompt and appropriate treatment and supports, and to guarantee that there is full accountability for mishandling of diagnosis cases. Deputy Shortall said: “I welcome the proposed setting up of an independent […]

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Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil secrecy over Facebook spending is two-faced

The Social Democrats have accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of two-facedness over the refusal of both parties to disclose the amount they are spending on Facebook advertising. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said today: “Given the backdrop of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the furore over the Strategic Communications Unit, it is inexcusable […]

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Women’s Day highlights need to support Repeal referendum

On International Women’s Day, the co-leaders of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD and Catherine Murphy TD, have raised the need for more women to be involved in politics and urged people to support the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. Deputy Shortall said: “International Women’s Day is an important occasion to celebrate women’s many […]

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Social Democrats call for North’s Civic Forum to be re-established

The Social Democrats have called for the North’s Civic Forum to be reconstituted as a way to give voice to people left behind by the peace process. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said the consultative forum of civil society and community groups could serve as a counterbalance to the ‘green and orange’ straitjacket of […]

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Minister pleads inability to pay for child protection training for childcare workers

The Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to stop treating childcare workers as ‘second class educators’ and provide proper supports so that they can undertake mandatory in-service child protection training. Deputy Shortall made her call after questioning Minister Zappone in the Dáil today about the […]

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Government Bill falls far short in protections for low paid precarious workers

The government’s Bill for employees with insecure contracts does not go far enough to protect precarious workers and will allow their exploitation to continue, the Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall TD said today. Deputy Shortall said the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 contained significant loopholes that could be exploited by employers to undermine job security […]

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Full transcripts of O’Higgins Commission must now be publicly released

The Social Democrats have called for the full transcripts of the O’Higgins Commission to be released so we can finally get to the truth about the aggressive legal strategy pursued against Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “I welcome the Tánaiste’s resignation, however overdue. But it does point to […]

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Stark warning from Commission on Future of Policing must be heeded

The Minister for Justice must heed the stark warning from the Commission on the Future of Policing regarding the extent of the problems in the Garda which are clearly more significant that the government seems to realise, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said today. Deputy Shortall was commenting on the Commission’s warning in a […]

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