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The government must urgently intervene to ensure the safety of Irish citizens illegally detained by Israeli forces in international waters, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Reports today indicate that up to five Irish people, including a member of the Oireachtas, are being held by the IDF after a […]

Supplementary legislation must ensure no family is left behind when it comes to assisted human reproduction, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who today will launch a report on the matter as Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “The journey towards robust legislation to regulate and support donor assisted human […]

Today’s budget will be met with bitter disappointment by parents due to the absence of measures to bring down the cost of childcare, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “Despite Tánaiste Simon Harris expressing support for a public model of childcare before last year’s […]

The government has splashed the cash to the tune of half a billion euro in order to provide tax cuts for multi-millionaire investor funds and developers, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Heane said: “Those in need of affordable homes – renters, generations stuck in their childhood bedrooms, and working families – […]

Budget 2026 will be remembered for prioritising big developers and fast-food chains over the needs of struggling households, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “This is a budget characterised by bad choices and missed opportunities. It paints a picture of a government firmly on the side of vested interests rather […]

Third level students are set to be betrayed by the government in tomorrow’s Budget, with a cut of just €500 in college fees expected to be announced, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “Students and their families had become accustomed to […]

The Irish Government must do all it can to get detainees from the Sumud flotilla released from prison in Israel, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, a TD for Dublin North West said: “One of my constituents Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais was abducted illegally by Israel when he was aboard the global Sumud […]

Online footage of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking illegally detained flotilla campaigners has been slammed by Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It is disgusting, but hardly surprising, to see such appalling behaviour from Minister Ben-Gvir, who embodies everything that is wrong about this terror state right-wing government – a […]

It’s concerning that the Environment Minister has not provided details of his meeting with energy companies a week on, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “With great fanfare, it was announced that Environment Minister Darragh O’Brien would be meeting with energy providers to discuss the cost of gas and electricity […]

The government must act on the recommendations of a new report which found that using more standardised housing designs and modern methods of construction could slash homebuilding costs by up to an eighth, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The conclusions of this study, commissioned […]