News

Government should be supporting women, not restricting their reproductive and healthcare choices An effective ban on homebirths in rural communities will compromise women’s health and put additional pressure on existing services in maternity hospitals, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns again raised the issue in the Dáil today, amid growing public concern […]

UN climate conference must deliver measurable results on global warming  The Government must insist that COP27 is more than just a talking shop and use Ireland’s influence to achieve climate justice for developing countries, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, said: “Given the […]

Callous treatment of Twitter staff does not bode well for future direction of company under new ownership Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has called on the Government to ensure that Twitter will fully comply with all provisions of Irish employment law after staff learned of significant job losses at its Dublin office today. Deputy […]

Action, not vague promises of future housing delivery, is urgently needed  The Housing For All action plan update and Q3 progress report published today show that the Government is falling far behind on its delivery targets for social and affordable homes, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing […]

Minister’s figures lay bare the scale of injustice involved in flawed redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has renewed her call on the Government to amend its proposed redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes after it emerged that 24,000 former residents will not be […]

The latest homelessness figures are a shocking indictment of the Government’s failure to deliver social and affordable homes The latest homelessness figures highlight the Government’s failure to deliver on social and affordable housing, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “Figures released today show the highest […]

Work to provide safe and legal abortion access in Ireland must continue The 10th anniversary of Savita Halappanavar’s death should allow us to reflect on the progress we have made in the reform of our abortion laws, but also on the shortcomings of the legislation as it stands, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Paying […]

Government inaction will condemn O’Connell Street to an even bleaker future  Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has called on Leo Varadkar to make the rejuvenation of O’Connell Street a priority when he takes over as Taoiseach later this year. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: “Last week, the Taoiseach refused to commit to the […]

At what stage in this process will the penny finally drop for the Minister that this legislation is not fit for purpose?  Government TDs should be allowed a vote of conscience on a controversial Bill giving effect to the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes, according to Holly Cairns of the Social […]

Unacceptable that low interest loan guarantee scheme for households now pushed out to 2023 The Government needs to immediately clarify how targets set for the National Retrofitting Scheme will be achieved, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, also expressed concern that a low […]