News

The State apology given by the Taoiseach today to those who suffered abuse in industrial and reformatory schools, while welcome, will be meaningless if the government fails to honour its commitment to provide additional supports for survivors, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “It is […]

The government cannot continue to sit on the fence when it comes to reforming and expanding GP care in Ireland, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice made his comments after today’s Dáil debate on a Social Democrats’ motion aimed at solving the GP crisis. He said: “While the government did not […]

Institutional landlords and developers are celebrating the government’s upcoming changes to rental laws which throw renters under the bus to increase corporate profits, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “IRES Reit, the State’s largest landlord, has said the quiet part out loud: that the government’s new rental rules, which will […]

Extortionate GP fees for menopause specific appointments are acting as a barrier to women seeking access to the government’s free HRT scheme, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “In Ireland, 51 per cent of the population will go through menopause during their lives. While some women can get by without treatment, […]

IRES Reit hoovering up a large apartment development in Kildare shows government policy continues to prioritise corporate landlords over those struggling to rent or desperate to buy a home, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “IRES Reit’s move to buy up 77 residential apartments in a development in Naas for […]

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) provide further proof that consumers in Ireland are being ripped off by energy companies, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The game is finally up for opportunistic energy companies, with the CSO confirming that wholesale electricity prices […]

Minister for Housing James Browne must not proceed with flawed rental measures, due to come into force on March 1st, which would plunge Ireland’s housing crisis to new lows, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s report from Daft.ie shows market rents rose by 4.4% during 2025, 80% higher than […]

The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ motion on Wednesday (February 25) aimed at addressing the crisis in GP care in Ireland. The party’s 20-point plan sets out a number of key measures to improve access, remove costs and increase capacity when it comes to general practitioner care in Ireland. These include: Introducing free GP […]

Today marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine – another grim milestone in this devastating conflict, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Four years into Russia’s brutal invasion, Ukrainians are facing one of their harshest winters in recent memory. Temperatures have fallen below minus 20 degrees […]

The government’s screeching u-turn on cuts to SNAs was inevitable but raises further serious questions, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The government was forced into this climb down because of enormous public anger. This is a victory for parents, school communities and SNAs. However, we now need clarity on […]