News

Catherine Murphy TD outlines our proposals to combat ‘off the record’ government with a new legal duty on senior officials to make and keep written records of meetings with ministers. A legal duty to document meetings, with sanctions for failing to do so, would put an end to ‘off the record’ government. Opinion: Catherine Murphy […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD, has raised fresh questions and concerns about the 42 schools constructed by Western Building Systems which are currently being assessed for structural defects. We need answers to these questions for anxious parents, teachers and other school staff who have spent the mid-term break concerned about whether they will have […]

The Social Democrats today warmly welcomed the re-election of Michael D. Higgins as a vote for an inclusive and compassionate President who speaks for all the people of Ireland. “The incredibly strong mandate for Michael D. Higgins shows that people want to see our country led by a decent, inclusive and compassionate President who speaks […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has received a further parliamentary reply regarding former Minister Michael Noonan’s meeting with representatives of Enet including PR adviser to Enet, Eoin O’Neachtain, in December 2016. “It is not in the public interest for the department to withhold this very basic request for information or tangle it in bureaucratic red […]

Social Democrats’ Spokesperson for Children, Councillor Jennifer Whitmore, has said the Department of Education must ensure that structural inspections on all 42 schools built by Western Building Systems will be concluded before the end of the mid-term break. “All affected schools need to know with certainty that these assessments will be carried out within the […]

Responding to reports today that two Dublin schools have been shut down after structural problems were discovered in the buildings, Social Democrats Councillor Cian O’Callaghan said: “There is no excuse for the inaction by the Department – there should have been immediate inspection and audits of all similar schools that were built by Western Building […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to compel the HSE to release smear slides to women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy so they can be independently reviewed. “In our recent Alternative Budget we proposed that the Government set aside funding for a deposit and return scheme […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today described as inexcusable the Taoiseach’s refusal to give a commitment to bring any future agreement about the new National Maternity Hospital before the Dáil in advance of it being signed off. “There is grave concern, especially among women, about the fact that it is proposed to transfer ownership […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has taken the government to task for failing to deliver effective corruption law reforms despite repeated promises and re-hashed plans. “The Social Democrats have long recognised the need for a more coordinated approach to tackling corruption and corporate crime. As far back as November 2015, we proposed the creation […]