Long term planning must be a central function of government – and this has sadly been lacking. The summer economic statement has again highlighted the government’s failure to sufficiently plan for the country’s future needs, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The headline figures reflect a healthy fiscal position – but they mask […]
Read moreEven though Quinn Insurance is now legally defunct, its toxic legacy persists It is unacceptable that details of the €100 million cost of the administration of Quinn Insurance have not been published, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The collapse of Quinn Insurance cost the State in excess of €1 billion at a […]
Read moreIt would be bizarre and grotesque for reform to be further delayed because the Minister overseeing SIPO was the subject of an investigation Long overdue reform of our ethics legislation must not be further delayed by the controversy that has engulfed Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Minister […]
Read moreAs Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe prepares to leave office, his biggest priority is rewarding bankers The government’s plans to restore bankers’ bonuses are an insult to the millions of workers who have seen their wages fall because of the cost of living crisis, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “As Finance Minister Paschal […]
Read moreBulk of €124 million in unclaimed prize money spent on advertising and promotion, according to report Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has welcomed recommendations contained in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services for 2021 relating to oversight of the National Lottery’s finances. Deputy Murphy, who is vice-chair of […]
Read moreImmediate threat to living standards and long-term challenges must be met Protecting the most vulnerable from the cost-of-living crisis is the key priority in the Social Democrats’ alternative budget, published today. The party’s alternative budget document, ‘Responding to the Crisis: A Social Democratic Approach’, aims to strike a balance between dealing with the immediate threat […]
Read moreIt is not that long ago that the Irish public bailed out the banks, to the tune of €60 billion The decision by AIB to remove cash services from 70 branches around the country will disproportionately negatively impact people in rural Ireland and elderly people, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The decision […]
Read moreThe government’s approach is to watch people fall into further debt and poverty before it is willing to act The Summer Economic Statement shows the government can act and introduce an emergency budget now, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The summer economic statement has again confirmed that the government has the capacity […]
Read moreThe cost-of-living crisis is now an emergency, but the government is callously refusing to act. It is essential that the government introduces an emergency budget given inflation is now running at nearly 10pc, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Inflation is now running at nearly 10pc. Price increases are becoming embedded across the […]
Read moreWhat does it say about this government when the Tories have a more generous approach to the living wage than it does? The government has abandoned its commitment to introduce a living wage that people can actually live on, according to Social Democrats co-leader and Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “When this government came to power, […]
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