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This week’s deportation of children, who were deeply embedded in their local community, lacked sensitivity and compassion, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who represents Dublin South-Central and is the party’s spokesperson on education, said: “This operation, which saw five children included on a chartered deportation flight from Dublin, was cruel and […]

Proposing sweeping changes to asylum processes without showing how they can be achieved is a deeply cynical move, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who’s the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “It’s no coincidence that, following his absence from the Garda Representative Association conference, where rank-and-file gardaí expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state […]

The government must finally make a stand against violent extremism and online incitement, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “Recently released internal documents, as reported in the media, reveal that the government decided to halt the opening of asylum centres in certain areas in response […]

It appears to be government policy to scapegoat international protection applicants for their own failures and capitulate to anti-immigrant protestors rather than stand up for truth and justice The Taoiseach must clarify comments he made to the Sunday Times in which he incorrectly claimed that homeless numbers are impacted by people coming to this country […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has described a violent attack on asylum seekers in Dublin city centre last night as a despicable new low. “It is heartbreaking to think that 15 vulnerable people seeking International Protection in this country could be subjected to such brutality on the streets of our capital city. “Just hours after […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has strongly condemned today’s violence in Coolock. “There is no place in society for the type of despicable criminal behaviour we witnessed today on Dublin’s northside. “Again, we have seen hysteria, fear and hatred whipped up over proposed accommodation for asylum seekers, leading to attacks on gardai and workers, as […]

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has called for urgent clarity on proposed works along the banks of the Grand Canal that could involve the use of hostile architecture like spikes to prevent homeless people from erecting tents. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: “For more than six weeks now, one of the city’s most […]

Fencing off the city to prevent homeless asylum seekers from setting up tents is not a sustainable solution to the immigration accommodation crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on integration, said: “Just hours after removing more than 100 tents from along the banks of the Grand […]

The Government’s ham-fisted handling of the immigration accommodation crisis is making a bad situation in Dublin even worse, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on integration, said: “Just days after the Taoiseach pledged to end the sad spectacle of tents pitched on the streets of our capital, […]