News

Today’s report from the Health Information and Quality Authority lays bare Tusla’s inability to deliver on its mission to protect vulnerable children and young people, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “When children are telling inspectors that their life has gotten worse since coming into care, you have to question […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for immediate government action after it emerged today that just 10 per cent of Ireland’s historic landfills have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “Waste from old landfills is buried underground in every county in Ireland, often […]

The Irish prison system is in crisis as overcrowding continues to spiral out of control, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The Irish Penal Reform Trust said this morning that the Irish prison system is overstretched, overwhelmed and inhumane. We’ve known this for some time now, and the situation continues […]

Ireland’s infrastructure delivery is the slowest in Europe – a damning indictment of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The Government’s announcement of emergency legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects is a belated admission of failure, according to Social Democrats Finance and Public Expenditure spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “According to the Draghi Report on EU […]

The government must immediately respond to weekend reports that it is set to abandon plans to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Yesterday’s report in the Irish Mail on Sunday is deeply concerning. Quoting unnamed Cabinet sources, it suggests the government is set to […]

While the NDP Sectoral Plan for Health includes much-needed projects to improve our health service, crucial details are missing in terms of their delivery, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Following the publication of an underwhelming NDP last July, this Sectoral Plan for Health is long overdue. Much of our […]

The government is continuing to ignore proposals that would deliver homes in favour of the same old doomed policies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “One year ago, on the day of General Election 2024, the number of people in emergency accommodation was 14,996. That figure today is 16,766. “Shockingly, […]

The government’s National Transport Plan is completely lacking in ambition, according to Social Democrats transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “The government’s National Transport Plan lacks all ambition and its rollout of public transport projects is unacceptably slow. “Luas Finglas, which received planning permission this month, won’t start construction until 2029. This is not […]

The government’s new tenancy rules have created massive uncertainty in the rental market and resulted in a tsunami of evictions, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows that rents are continuing to rise while the number […]

Online games and platforms marketed towards children which do not uphold child protection standards must be blocked until they can demonstrate compliance, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “A senior garda from the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau has warned that children are being groomed and exploited on online gaming […]