News

The Media Minister must ensure that a website linked to the deaths of two Irish people detailed in a report today by The Journal is blocked with immediate effect, according to Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the Oireachtas AI Committee, said: “Firstly, my thoughts go out to the victims […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore will introduce a landmark Bill this week aimed at reducing renewable energy wastage by making surplus electricity available to struggling households at no cost. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Last year, more than half a billion euros in renewable energy was wasted. This is scandalous […]

Government plans to sanction performance-related salary increases for transport bosses, including the CEO of CIE, must be shelved until there is full accountability for the botched handling of Irish Rail’s new traffic management system (TMS), according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s transport spokesperson, said: “This essential IT project […]

The Government is refusing to take emergency measures to address the homelessness crisis, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s figures show there were 17,447 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of May. Shockingly, 5,583 of them are children. “There’s been a 20% increase in the number […]

The Government must move beyond words of support this Pride by taking action to ban conversion practices, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is a longtime advocate and campaigner for LGBTQIA+ rights, said: “Conversion ‘therapy’ describes a range a practices which aim to change or supress an individual’s sexual orientation […]

A proactive approach to public transport provision must be taken to tackle the adverse health and economic effects of congestion on our motorways, according to Social Democrats transport spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “The findings of the Centre for Transport Research at Trinity College Dublin’s M50 user survey are grim but not surprising. We […]

The Government must consider all alternative ways of delivering energy security before locking the State into costly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, made her comments as the Dáil debated the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026 at second stage today. She said: […]

Today’s warning from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) that grocery prices are set to rise further in the second half of this year highlights the need to give the Agri-Food Regulator additional powers, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “With households already […]

An independent UN report which confirmed the IDF is deliberately targeting and murdering children in Gaza reveals the depths of Israel’s depravity, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “An independent UN inquiry has found that Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting and murdering Palestinian children in Gaza. […]

People in Ireland are dying from drugs at a rate that is three times higher than the EU average The tepid response to the report from the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use from government is hugely disappointing, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is chair of the Committee, said: “In […]