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Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has accused the Government of blatant hypocrisy after it emerged that €1.5 million has been spent on an advertising campaign promoting disability rights – all while the State continues to deny disabled people those very rights. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “The disability awareness campaign, […]

The EU’s trade deal with Israel should be suspended until the Israeli government complies with international law, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The ambivalent response of the international community to the litany of war crimes being carried out in Gaza is shameful. The UN Security Council is toothless; the UN General Assembly is […]

The Minister for Education has failed to treat the teacher recruitment crisis in our schools with the urgency it deserves, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “A survey of over 1,000 primary and special schools conducted last month found there were more than 800 vacant […]

The Government is failing miserably to address the issue of generational poverty, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on Social Protection, said: “An analysis of data included in the Pobal Deprivation Index reveals that the number of people living in areas classed as ‘very disadvantaged’ or ‘extremely […]

Uisce Éireann must accelerate efforts to end discharges of raw sewage into Ireland’s rivers and coastal waters, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s biodiversity spokesperson, said: “In its ‘Urban Waste Water Treatment 2022’ report, published today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlights the scale of the challenge facing […]

New figures released by the Simon Communities of Ireland reveal the true scale of the rental crisis faced by those reliant on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “In its ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report for September, the […]

The Government must commit to implementing in full the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. “I have long held the view that criminalising addiction is not the way forward. I therefore welcome the assembly members’ majority vote in favour of a comprehensive health-led response to personal […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has called on the Government and local authorities to offer every support available to households and businesses most affected by flood damage in the wake of Storm Babet. Deputy Cairns said: “The sheer scale of the clean-up operation after yesterday’s storm is staggering, with millions of euros worth of damage […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for all accommodation used under the State’s Direct Provision system to be inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) following a damning report by the Ombudsman for Children. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “This is the first time that the Ombudsman’s […]

Data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) provides further insights into the widening affordability gap faced by those seeking to buy a home of their own, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “An analysis of the data, which was published by the CSO […]