News

The government has doubled down on the deeply unfair decision to reintroduce State examination fees , according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Emails issued to school principals directing them to send information regarding the collection of fees to parents demonstrate a refusal by government to listen to the concerns of […]

Social Democrats social protection spokesperson Eoin Hayes has written to the Tánaiste, urging him to include an emergency payment for people with disabilities in the package of cost-of-living measures that will be announced by the government tomorrow. Deputy Hayes said: “As the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran and Lebanon continue, surging gas and oil […]

It is unconscionable that sick, elderly and disabled people in a retirement village in Sligo have been issued eviction notices, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “In November, the tenants of six of the houses in Sonas Retirement Village in Enniscrone were told by their landlord, Nasso BK Holdings Ltd, […]

Daffodil Day is an opportune time put a spotlight on Ireland’s cancer care services, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice made his comments as the Irish Cancer Society’s biggest annual fundraiser got under way across the country today. He said: “Huge progress has been made in cancer treatment in recent decades, […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has criticised the government’s lack of urgency in tackling nitrogen levels in our rivers. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “In its latest assessment – based on data from 20 representative monitoring sites – the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that nitrogen concentrations in rivers increased by […]

Rental measures introduced by government on March 1st have led to record levels of eviction notices not seen since the famine, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “In the months leading up to the government’s rental changes, which allow landlords to reset rents to market rate between tenancies, I repeatedly […]

The Minister for Education must explain why a number of children in Finglas are receiving just two hours of school time a day in a community hall because of a delay in delivering two special classes, according to Social Democrats TDs Rory Hearne and Jen Cummins. Deputy Hearne, who represents Dublin North-West, said: “I have […]

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that residential property prices have continued to spiral out of control under this government, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “According to figures released today by the CSO, property prices increased by 7 per cent in […]

Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly has written to Minister for Children Norma Foley asking to immediately defer the Committee stage consideration of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025, as the government’s own amendments will not be ready in time to be debated. Deputy Farrelly said: “TD’s are elected, first and foremost, to legislate. How […]

Micheál Martin must clarify if he formally invited US President Donald Trump to Ireland for a State visit later this year, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “In the Oval Office yesterday, US President Donald Trump said Micheál Martin had told him he hoped that he came to Ireland […]