News

The Government’s announcement that it will establish a Commission of Investigation into the convicted sex offender Michael Shine is welcome but long overdue, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “The Social Democrats welcome today’s announcement. Shine is one of the most notorious and prolific paedophiles in Irish history – a […]

The Taoiseach must urgently intervene to prevent further escalation of the dispute over free legal aid fees, which is causing chaos in our criminal courts and delaying victims of crime their right to justice, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “As 100 more solicitors resigned […]

The illegal use of scrambler bikes is dangerously out of control in parts of Dublin’s north inner city and requires an emergency response from the Minister for Justice, according to Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis. Deputy Ennis, who represents Dublin Central, was commenting after witnessing chaotic scenes in his constituency over the weekend involving up […]

The Justice Minister’s sneering and dismissive approach to legal aid reforms is causing chaos Chaos at the courts today is a mess of the Justice Minister’s making, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “Up to 60 solicitors walked out of the Dublin District Court today in protest at the Justice […]

The Minister for Justice must develop a strategy to combat the sinister rise in violence and aggression against migrants, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “The increase in racially motivated attacks – on people, property and places of worship – is something that should concern […]

Personal possession of drugs for one’s own use should cease to be treated as a criminal matter and should instead be met with a health-led approach, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Drugs Committee, said: “The Committee recommends the repeal of section 3 of the […]

Criminal legal aid is the glue that holds our justice system together – and the Minister seems determined to destroy it The Justice Minister must release the report he is using as a pretext to take a sledgehammer to the criminal legal aid scheme, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: […]

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 […]