News

The Justice Minister’s handling of this fiasco has been unnecessarily divisive, combative and utterly cackhanded The Justice Minister’s proposed hatchet job on criminal legal aid will decimate it and cripple the legal system, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The Justice Minister’s proposed hatchet job on criminal legal aid, and […]

The passage of the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026, also known as ‘Valerie’s Law’, through the Dáil today is a landmark step towards justice, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns said: “This legislation seeks to ensure that a parent convicted of killing the other parent does not automatically […]

The introduction of a flat-fee system for legal aid representation will effectively dismantle a system which, while not perfect in many respects, functions well when it comes to safeguarding the right to effective legal representation and the right to a fair trial, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The system […]

The coming into force of the migration pact is a retrograde step for migrants rights in Ireland and across Europe, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “I have major concerns about this pact, not least the real risk that we will see children detained in Ireland while their applications are […]

It is beyond belief that no addiction nurses are employed in Irish prisons, despite the majority of inmates suffering from addiction, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “We know that addiction is one of the primary drivers of the low level offending that makes up a massive proportion of our […]

The Taoiseach and Minister for Justice must meet with the survivors of convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally and deliver a State apology to those who fought long and hard for justice, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “At the outset, I want to state that it is outrageous that victims were […]

No stone should be left unturned in the investigation into the death of a Congolese man in Dublin last week, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon TD. Deputy Gannon said: “A video circulating on social media which depicts an incident surrounding the death of a Congolese man, Yves Sakila, on Henry Street on […]

The drug trade must not be allowed to ravage our most disadvantaged areas any longer, according to Social Democrats Councillor Daniel Ennis and justice spokesperson Gary Gannon TD. Councillor Ennis said: “Over 1,000 cases of drug-related intimidation were recorded by drug and alcohol services in 2025, which affected all age groups, including children and the […]

The Government is doing nothing to address rapidly declining prison conditions, despite overcrowding reaching record highs, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “Irish prisons have been bursting at the seams for years now, yet no substantive action has been taken to address these worsening conditions by the Minister for Justice. […]

Chronic underfunding of policing and safety initiatives in Ballymun has exposed children to the horrors of the drug trade, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who represents the Ballymun area, said: “Yesterday’s incident in Ballymun happened as a result of safety and drug-related intimidation being left unchallenged in the community by successive […]