News

The Social Democrats have called on the Pope to acknowledge the complicity of the Catholic Church in clerical child sexual abuse in Ireland, and to commit to mandatory reporting across the world of all cases of child sexual abuse. “Ultimately actions speak louder than words and we’ve heard the apologies before. It’s long past time to move on […]

Taoiseach must raise issue of confessional secrecy on child abuse with Pope Francis “There is a direct conflict between the requirement of our legislation and Canon Law. Canon Law can never be allowed to over-ride civil law, in particular when it comes to the protection of children”. Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Cllr. Jennifer Whitmore […]

The Social Democrats have criticised today’s announced sale by Ulster Bank of mortgages to US vulture fund Cerberus as yet another example of ordinary people paying a heavy price for the government’s policy failures. “My own experience of dealing with a vulture fund was very difficult. Ulster Bank customers affected by this sale will be […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed today’s adoption by the government of the Sláintecare health reform – but questioned its urgency in implementing it. “Today’s announcement is a resounding endorsement of the cross-party Sláintecare vision for a universal, single-tier health system.” Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed today’s adoption by the […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the government must take urgent heed of today’s stark warning by the State’s competitiveness body that our economy is under threat because of an over-reliance on multinationals. “Our high cost of living is another significant threat to our economic competitiveness that must be addressed. Housing, transport, healthcare […]

The Social Democrats have called on the government to put in place workable solutions to stave off the wholesale sale of Permanent TSB’s non-performing home loans to unregulated vulture funds. “It is downright insulting to mortgage holders that the Taoiseach said he hadn’t heard about a State-owned bank’s sale of its Project Glas loan portfolio […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children, Cllr Jennifer Whitmore, has said concerted efforts must be made to bring down back-to-school costs so that parents don’t have to resort to money lenders or use funds earmarked for household bills. “Simply sending your children to school should not mean having to rob Peter to pay Paul by using […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today it is morally repugnant that a State-backed corporate landlord has attempted to flout legal rent controls. The Minister for Housing needs to send a clear signal to corporate landlords that this kind of behaviour is morally repugnant, particularly at a time of chronic housing shortages and when […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to compel the HSE to release smear slides to women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy so they can be independently reviewed. “It is totally shocking that the government is presiding over a situation where our carbon emissions are actually going […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must provide clear assures that all publicly funded hospitals – including those connected to religious orders – will provide all legal healthcare services, including abortion services. “The Minister for Health needs to scotch any suggestions that patients will be denied vital services that […]