News

The head of the UK’s Government legal department, Jonathan Jones, has quit over suggestions that Boris Johnson is trying to row back on parts of last year’s Brexit deal relating to Northern Ireland. Commenting on the development, Social Democrats Brexit spokesperson, Cian O’Callaghan TD, said: “It appears from the resignation of Jonathan Jones that the […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has called for proper consultation with groups representing people living in poverty and disability organisations when climate action policies are being developed. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate, made her comments following the recent publication of the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy by […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD called on the Minister for Health to review the new regulations on keeping records of food consumed by customers in pubs and restaurants. Deputy Murphy said: “The regulations seem daft in that they penalise all those pubs and restaurants who are observing the law and existing regulations governing their […]

Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, has said that any increase in third level places this year must be matched by additional State funding. Holly said: “The reopening of third level institutions will be as challenging as the reopening of our schools. Colleges and universities are doing the best they […]

Two Social Democrats TDs – Gary Gannon and Holly Cairns – have called on the Minister for Higher Education to clarify issues raised by CAO applicants who sat the Leaving Certificate in previous years but will not benefit from predicted grades inflation when results are released next week. Gary Gannon TD, the party’s spokesperson on […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said today that the findings of a UNICEF survey on the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents highlight the need for the Government to invest in further supports for young people as our schools reopen. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Children, said: “The findings of the UNICEF […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, is calling on the Minister for Finance to end the special tax treatment for institutional investors like Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The Government must scrap the favourable tax treatment for institutional investors. A report from the industry this week highlights […]

In the Dáil today, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, called on the Government to properly play its part in tackling the Covid-19 crisis by seriously addressing three crucial issues – testing and tracing; controls at airports and ports; and transparency about Covid-19 infections data. Deputy Shortall said: “The public continue to forego […]

The Covid-19 Data Hub should be updated on a weekly basis to ensure public goodwill in the event of further localised lockdowns, according to Catherine Murphy, Kildare North TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Murphy said: “It is clear that we will have to live with this virus until there is a vaccine […]

Gary Gannon TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Education, has said that difficulties in recruiting additional teachers has emerged as one of the greatest challenges as our schools reopen. Deputy Gannon said: “The recruitment of over 1,000 additional teachers for post-primary schools was one of the headline measures in the Government’s announcement at the end of […]