News

Responding to the Taoiseach’s announcement of the easing of lockdown restrictions, co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD, has said: “It’s surprising that the Taoiseach has this evening set out a phased easing of restrictions based on dates, given that the Government’s previous plan emphasised that any change would be based on data instead. […]

Cllr Paul Mulville has worked with members of the Fingal Social Democrats branch to develop a submission to the Forest of Fingal Tree Strategy public consultation. The submission supports the core objectives of the draft strategy while calling for improved communication with the public around all aspects of tree works. Cllr Mulville said: “We believe that it […]

The Rural Future plan announced today must be followed up with immediate Government action to help stem the further decline of communities throughout Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Holly, who represents Cork South-West, said: “The plan announced today, while ambitious in terms of scale, will ultimately be judged on how quickly it […]

Social Democrats’ College & University Branches, Labour Youth, Ógra Shinn Féin, Young Fine Gael, and Young Greens/Óige Ghlas, along with Conradh na Gaeilge, are calling on the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin, and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, to put in place a bilingual packaging policy by the end of 2024. […]

Commenting on the Government’s Rural Future plan today, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore called for the provision of drop-in childcare facilities at the working hubs proposed under the initiative. Deputy Whitmore said: “Working hubs with high-speed broadband form a central plank of the Government’s plan to re-energise rural communities and make it viable for people to work […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has spoken out strongly against the news today that the Beacon Hospital gave 20 surplus vaccines to teachers in a nearby private school. She said: “What happened this week at the Beacon is completely unacceptable. The hospital ignored the sequencing protocol in favour of passing on the surplus vaccines […]

Commenting on figures released today by the Department of Housing, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called for immediate action to reduce the numbers of people becoming homeless. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The figures released today by the Department of Housing show that at the end of February there were […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore believes that Ireland should follow New Zealand’s example by providing paid leave for women who suffer miscarriages. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, was speaking during the Family Leave Bill in the Dáil today where she acknowledged New Zealand’s introduction of a bereavement payment to women who […]

Responding to the RTÉ Investigates report that revealed the Department of Health had gathered sensitive and confidential information about families taking cases against it, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called for the Secretary General and the Health Minister to appear before the Health Committee and Dáil respectively to answer questions. Deputy Shortall commented: […]

– Government needs to ramp up investment for paid parental leave and streamline legislation to make it family-friendly, says Jennifer Whitmore TD Speaking on the Family Leave Bill in the Dáil today, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore, said: “While I welcome the extension of paid parental leave to five weeks, the Government needs […]