News

Ireland must follow the example set by Australia by issuing an official State apology to Thalidomide survivors, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “The national apology given by Australia’s Prime Minister this week is a welcome recognition of the decades of suffering experienced by […]

East Cork Independent councillor Liam Quaide has announced that he is to join the Social Democrats. Mr Quaide, who is a clinical psychologist, led a campaign in East Cork over the past two years against the closure of the Owenacurra Centre mental health service. Following seven Oireachtas Committee hearings and Mr Quaide’s meeting with HSE […]

Justin Sinnott has been announced as the Social Democrats’ new councillor on South Dublin County Council. At a meeting of the council this week, Justin was co-opted to the seat vacated by Carly Bailey, who is stepping back from representative politics but will remain working with the Social Democrats. Speaking after the meeting, Justin said: […]

The Social Democrats will bring a motion before the Dáil next week (Wednesday, November 15) calling on the Government to withdraw diplomatic status from the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland and push for the imposition of EU-wide economic sanctions on Israel. Party leader Holly Cairns said: “The permissive and ambivalent reaction by the international community to […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has accused the Government of blatant hypocrisy after it emerged that €1.5 million has been spent on an advertising campaign promoting disability rights – all while the State continues to deny disabled people those very rights. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “The disability awareness campaign, […]

The EU’s trade deal with Israel should be suspended until the Israeli government complies with international law, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The ambivalent response of the international community to the litany of war crimes being carried out in Gaza is shameful. The UN Security Council is toothless; the UN General Assembly is […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has called on the Government and local authorities to offer every support available to households and businesses most affected by flood damage in the wake of Storm Babet. Deputy Cairns said: “The sheer scale of the clean-up operation after yesterday’s storm is staggering, with millions of euros worth of damage […]

The Government’s failure to avert tomorrow’s strike action by Section 39 workers will heap further pressure on threadbare services for the elderly and people with disabilities, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “There was an expectation that last week’s Budget would allocate funding to […]

The Irish Government must exert pressure on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene in the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “Ms von der Leyen is today in Israel and has the ear of the Israeli government. She is now perfectly positioned to make a strong […]

Disability services continue to be shamefully neglected by the Government in Budget 2024, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “People with disabilities must fight for the most basic rights from the day they are born. Despite the ongoing crisis in services, this Government continues […]