News

Government parties are attempting to mount a rearguard action to reduce Opposition speaking time Instead of cynically using last week’s Dáil speaking time controversy as a pretext to erode Opposition Dáil time, the government could resolve the dispute by cutting all ties with Michael Lowry, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. “Government pandering […]

The Dáil must be recalled this week to discuss the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn along with plans to provide support to the hundreds and thousands of people still without electricity and water, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. “Storm Éowyn left a trail of utter destruction in its wake, with the west […]

The Social Democrats do not accept that there is any precedent for this undemocratic power grab by any incoming government Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín should end the charade of Regional Independent TDs masquerading as members of the Opposition by leaving their technical group so its numbers fall below the threshold for speaking rights, according to […]

It is an indictment of the way this government intends to operate that a political stroke is its very first act  Micheál Martin and Simon Harris must clarify if they are happy for Regional Independent TDs to hijack Dáil speaking time set aside to allow the Opposition hold government to account, according to Social Democrats […]

The draft programme for government lacks ambition and comprises tinkering around the edges with more failed FF and FG policy  The next government will be a conservative coalition which will bring the country backwards not forwards, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was commenting following publication of the draft programme for […]

Skyrocketing property prices continue to be the main barrier to owning a home in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest national Residential Property Price Index, published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), recorded a 9.7 per cent increase in the 12 […]

The HSE must explain why it is sitting on more than 200 vacant properties in the middle of a housing crisis, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “With almost 15,000 people – including over 4,600 children – set to wake up on Christmas Day […]

Statement from Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary party this morning. “At a meeting of the Social Democrats parliamentary party this morning, a decision was taken to continue talks with the four parties we have already engaged with – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Labour. “Earlier, […]

Predictions that house completions for 2024 will be lower than last year prove that the outgoing government’s already unambitious targets were never going to be achieved, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. “A forecast by EY-Euroconstruct estimates that just 32,000 new houses will be built this year – almost 700 fewer than in […]

Thousands of lives are being devastated by the ongoing homelessness crisis, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “When this government was formed in June 2020, there were 8,699 people in homeless emergency accommodation, 2,653 of them children. “There are now 14,966 people living in homeless emergency accommodation. “Shockingly, 4,645 of these are children […]