News

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has written to the Taoiseach urging the Irish Government to support the case taken by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice under the 1948 Genocide Convention. “I listened to the Taoiseach’s comments over the weekend with disappointment, when he said he had no intention of joining […]

The Government’s Green Paper on disability payment reforms would, in practice, further marginalise disabled people and should be scrapped, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “Although couched in language of care, this proposal from the Minister for Social Protection would demonise people with disabilities […]

Today’s motion on immigration by the Rural Independent Group has been branded a disgrace by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The Rural Independents should be ashamed of themselves for bringing this despicable motion before the Dáil, which is nothing more than a series of dog whistles. “In doing so, they are pandering to the far-right, […]

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 […]