News

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has lodged an official complaint with the Ceann Comhairle’s office following a refusal by Minister Pat Breen’s office to answer, in the specified timeframe, a parliamentary question she had asked regarding his engagements with Mr David McCourt and bidders in the National Broadband Plan process. “It is exceptionally unusual for […]

The Social Democrats today called for a Yes vote in next week’s referendum to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution on the grounds that it is outdated, obsolete and unnecessary. “The removal of the offence of blasphemy is yet one more step along the way to the full separation of Church and State.” […]

Deputy Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats today hit out at Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy for the fact that over 300 cases with An Bord Pleanála are awaiting a decision for more than six months. “Minister for Health Simon Harris must make it a top priority for the HSE to agree this important protocol […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has received a parliamentary reply showing that the former Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, met with representatives of Enet including PR advisor to Enet, Eoin O’Neachtain, in December 2016, to discuss Enet’s management of the Municipal Area Networks (MANs) just 3 months before former Minister for Communications Denis Naughten made […]

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. “The favourable tax treatment that the government offers international investment funds is squeezing first time buyers out of the […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has asked the Taoiseach a number of questions regarding the review into the National Broadband Plan being undertaken by Mr Peter Smith. “I am determined to ask the relevant questions now before it’s too late or we risk finding ourselves back in another costly Tribunal or Inquiry.” Social Democrats TD […]

The Social Democrats’ Political Director and Spokesperson on Consumer Affairs, Anne Marie McNally, called today for the government to urgently clarify the law so that landlords are banned from charging viewing fees for rental properties. “Charging viewing fees for rental properties is outrageous and exploitative. It piles more pressure on struggling renters who are increasingly […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must intervene to get clear answers to fresh questions and concerns raised today by the Scally Review into the CervicalCheck crisis. “It is alarming to learn today from members of the Scally Review that there may be other women affected by the CervicalCheck […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has said that Minister Naughten’s vague and often contradictory explanations regarding his actions in the NBP tendering process are insufficient and raise even more questions. “The Minister, despite prolific spinning and semantics about his various dinner dates with David McCourt and family, has not defended his flagrant breach of his […]

Students in schools and colleges have been snubbed in Budget 2019, Social Democrats’ Education Access and Equality Spokesman Cllr Gary Gannon said today. “For the second year running, there is a total absence of any Budget funding to help students cope with the rapidly escalating costs of going to third level by reducing fees or […]