News

Reports that ICE deportation flights carrying Palestinians to Isreal are using Shannon Airport to refuel are deeply disturbing, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Details of these deportations describe Palestinians as having their ankles shackled as they are flown across the world to be abandoned in an apartheid state. […]

The Social Democrats’ seventh National Conference takes place in Cork this weekend (February 6&7) at a time of significant growth for the party. Speaking ahead of this evening’s programme – which will close with a keynote address by the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid – party leader Holly Cairns said: “This is […]

Yesterday’s Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll shows that there is a clamour for genuine change in housing policy among voters, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “When almost two thirds of all voters believe that the government’s tenure is only causing the housing crisis to spiral further out of control, you […]

The Social Democrats today launched a new proposal for the creation of a State Construction Company that would deliver homes at the scale required to solve Ireland’s deepening housing crisis. Under the party’s proposal, a State Construction Company would operate alongside existing market delivery of housing, playing a significant role in providing more affordable and […]

The government is acting as if there is a ceasefire in Gaza despite Israel’s ongoing killing of innocent Palestinians, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Israel continues to murder with impunity while European leaders talk about the progress of the Gaza peace agreement. “There is no peace; last night, […]

Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich has been selected as the Social Democrats’ candidate for the forthcoming Galway West by-election. Born and raised in the Gaeltacht, Míde is a native Irish speaker and has been involved in grassroots activism on housing, mental health, the Irish language and neutrality. A Bachelor of law graduate, she previously served as welfare […]

The Minister for Health’s new Waiting List Action Plan lacks any credibility after the failure of her last plan, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice TD. Deputy Rice said: “A radically different approach to the one set out today, one which is in line with the reforms set out in Sláintecare, is the […]

Today’s homeless numbers are a result of a government which has deprioritised housing to a degree which is causing severe harm to thousands of people, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s figures show there were 16,734 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of December. Shockingly, over […]

The government’s response to the damage and disruption caused by Storm Chandra has been to evade responsibility and place blame on others, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “1,200 homes and businesses remain without power after Storm Chandra brought flooding and high winds to parts of Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow […]

Today’s confirmation of house completion figures for 2025 by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) highlights the real reason why the government abandoned setting annual targets, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “With just 36,284 homes delivered last year – which falls significantly short of what’s […]