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Government adoption of Sláintecare welcome – more urgency and dedicated funding needed

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed today’s adoption by the government of the Sláintecare health reform – but questioned its urgency in implementing it. “Today’s announcement is a resounding endorsement of the cross-party Sláintecare vision for a universal, single-tier health system.” Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed today’s adoption by the […]

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Government must pay urgent heed to warnings on threats to economic competitiveness

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the government must take urgent heed of today’s stark warning by the State’s competitiveness body that our economy is under threat because of an over-reliance on multinationals. “Our high cost of living is another significant threat to our economic competitiveness that must be addressed. Housing, transport, healthcare […]

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Government must do more to protect mortgage holders from vulture funds

The Social Democrats have called on the government to put in place workable solutions to stave off the wholesale sale of Permanent TSB’s non-performing home loans to unregulated vulture funds. “It is downright insulting to mortgage holders that the Taoiseach said he hadn’t heard about a State-owned bank’s sale of its Project Glas loan portfolio […]

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Burden on parents of back-to-school costs must be lifted

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children, Cllr Jennifer Whitmore, has said concerted efforts must be made to bring down back-to-school costs so that parents don’t have to resort to money lenders or use funds earmarked for household bills. “Simply sending your children to school should not mean having to rob Peter to pay Paul by using […]

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Planning permission granted for Baldoyle to Portmarnock cycling and walking route

Social Democrats Councillor Cian O’Callaghan has welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála today to grant planning permission for the Baldoyle to Portmarnock cycling and walking route “This new infrastructure will benefit commuters, local residents, visitors to the area and tourists. With large scale development taking place in Baldoyle, Portmarnock and surrounding areas it is […]

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Corporate landlord’s exploitation of rent loopholes morally repugnant

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today it is morally repugnant that a State-backed corporate landlord has attempted to flout legal rent controls. The Minister for Housing needs to send a clear signal to corporate landlords that this kind of behaviour is morally repugnant, particularly at a time of chronic housing shortages and when […]

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Government shows breath-taking complacency over climate change targets

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. “It is totally shocking that the government is presiding over a situation where our carbon emissions are actually going […]

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Assurances needed over abortion services in religious run hospitals

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must provide clear assures that all publicly funded hospitals – including those connected to religious orders – will provide all legal healthcare services, including abortion services. “The Minister for Health needs to scotch any suggestions that patients will be denied vital services that […]

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Report on Banking Culture Proves Need for Alternative Model

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said that yesterday’s Central Bank Report is a damning indictment of the banking culture in Ireland and gives lie to the Government announcement earlier this month that there is ‘no compelling case’ for a public banking model. “The creation of a publicly owned community banking system – such as operates […]

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