News

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 […]

Today’s figures underline the failure of successive governments to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in An Garda Síochána, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “I have been repeatedly raising the issue of Garda numbers and resources with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan since the formation of this government – […]

The Government’s decision to abandon plans to move certain immigration and planning judicial review cases from the High Court to the Circuit Court is both welcome and necessary, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon TD. Deputy Gannon said: “While this decision is welcome, it should never have come to this. This proposal would […]

Reports this morning that people awaiting deportation are now being arrested and detained in already dangerously overcrowded Irish prisons are deeply disturbing, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “This is the direct and predictable result of a Justice Minister who has profoundly neglected and mismanaged both our prison system and […]

Social Democrats TDs Cian O’Callaghan and Gary Gannon have criticised the government for announcing the latest Stardust redress scheme without any consultation with survivors. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is a TD for Dublin Bay North, said: “As we approach the 45th anniversary of the Stardust fire tragedy, the government has added further stress and pain to […]

The number of mental health patients being held in prisons has reached crisis levels, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “I visited Cork Prison at the end of October and was very concerned about its conditions, especially for vulnerable prisoners experiencing severe mental health difficulties. “The prison’s governor and staff […]

The death of a 16 year old girl in Finglas following last night’s collision involving a scrambler bike is a devastating tragedy for her family, her friends and her community, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne, who represents the Dublin North-West constituency. Deputy Hearne said: “I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences […]

It is deeply disturbing that a garda investigation was carried out into the source of reports in the Irish Times concerning the case of a serving member of the force charged with domestic violence against his ex-wife, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on justice, said: “Last […]