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The Taoiseach must listen to his backbenchers and abandon plans to scrap the Triple Lock, a move which would gravely undermine our neutrality, according to Social Democrats defence spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “It’s clear that it remains the view of many Fianna Fáil TDs that retaining the Triple Lock is imperative to protecting […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice has expressed support for the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and the Scoliosis Advocacy Network after both organisations pulled out of a scoping exercise for a Tribunal of Inquiry into Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “Families deserve the truth […]

The Minister for Justice must provide clarity and reassurance to communities that they will not lose vital garda resources when Ireland takes on the EU Presidency, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who represents Dublin North-West, said: “The reports that Ballymun garda station is due to lose at least 10 gardaí to […]

Following the recent election of new Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis in the Dublin Central by-election, Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns has today announced some changes to spokespeople roles among the parliamentary party. As part of these changes, Deputy Ennis has been appointed the party’s spokesperson on Children, Equality and Sport. Deputy Aidan Farrelly […]

The National Treasury Management Fund must immediately clarify whether it remains invested in companies operating in the West Bank, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “It is utterly unacceptable that the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund remained invested last year in five companies named in the latest UN Human Rights Office […]

The Government must act on the recommendations of a cross-party report on homelessness and introduce an emergency no-fault eviction ban, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s report from the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage offers important solutions for how the State should respond to homelessness. “The […]

In response to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Children has said there is no plan to conduct a review of Tusla, despite recent reports that the agency is failing to report cases of alleged child abuse to the Gardaí, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “I wrote to the […]

Government plans to introduce a social media ban for under-16s could potentially drive children to more unregulated and dangerous corners of the internet, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s media spokesperson, said: “It is deeply frustrating to see this continued tunnel vision from the Government who seem intent […]

The Justice Minister’s handling of this fiasco has been unnecessarily divisive, combative and utterly cackhanded The Justice Minister’s proposed hatchet job on criminal legal aid will decimate it and cripple the legal system, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The Justice Minister’s proposed hatchet job on criminal legal aid, and […]

The passage of the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026, also known as ‘Valerie’s Law’, through the Dáil today is a landmark step towards justice, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns said: “This legislation seeks to ensure that a parent convicted of killing the other parent does not automatically […]