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Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan T.D., responding to the publication of a Tenancies bill by Government stated: “The proposals by the Government to end the ban on evictions and rent increases for most tenants – while retaining some protections until January 2021 for those tenants who have been in receipt of a Covid 19 […]

Long term, substantial investment and innovative new ways of doing things will be required if schools are to reopen – and stay open – in the coming weeks, according to Gary Gannon, the Social Democrats spokesperson for Education. Deputy Gannon said: “The past number of months have been extremely difficult for students and parents and […]

Social Democrats Co-Leader Róisín Shortall TD has called again on the Minister for Health to urgently halt the proposed funding cuts to Disability Services. Deputy Shortall said: “The new Minister for Health has not provided assurance that the disgraceful funding cuts to the disability sector will be halted, or reversed where they have already taken […]

Speaking on the Bill on Residential Tenancies and Valuations 2020 to be rushed through the Dáil next week, Social Democrat Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan T.D. said: “The Bill published by the Minister for Housing will end the ban on rent increases and the ban on evictions for most tenants. While there is an exception for […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Government to ensure that the extension of the commercial rates waiver until the end of September will not impact on the ability of local authorities to provide essential services. Deputy Murphy said: “Many businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic were able to avail […]

Giving his reaction to the publication of the Bill on Residential Tenancies and Valuations 2020, Social Democrats Housing spokesperson, Cian O’Callaghan TD, said: “This bill proposes to end the rent freeze and evictions ban for most tenants. If the bill passes unamended, evictions and rent increases will resume at the start of August – except […]

Ministers’ game of ‘pass the parcel’ over responsibility for follow up calls to incoming passengers is putting the country at risk of further Covid-19 clusters, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. During health questions in today’s Dáil, Deputy Shortall said: “It is absolutely indefensible that only 3.5% of incoming passengers through […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for the Arts, Gary Gannon TD, said today that a reduction in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will be devastating for Ireland’s artistic community. Deputy Gannon said: “The PUP extension announced by the Government yesterday as part of the July stimulus package fails to take into account the circumstances of many people […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has said that the €5 billion stimulus package announced this afternoon by the Government must be about putting money into cash registers and into the pockets of those who need it most and will spend it in the short-term. Deputy Murphy said: “While there are positive measures […]

Cian O’Callaghan TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Housing and Planning, said today that the decision by the High Court to overturn planning permission for 245 apartments on the former Premier Dairies site in Dublin casts serious doubt over the Strategic Housing Development process. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The High Court quashed the planning permission granted […]