News

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) must immediately reverse its decision not to attend this week’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Sport and Media, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the committee and is the party’s spokesperson on sport, said: “Part of respecting sport as a public good is […]

Newly published guidelines for special needs assistants will harm some of the most vulnerable children in our schools, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “These guidelines do not represent progress – they are designed to ration resources, not to support children. “At a time when schools are already under huge […]

Growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by the international community, while welcome, must be matched with punitive sanctions to force Israel to end its genocidal campaign in Gaza, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Following yesterday’s declarations by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal, today’s session of the UN General […]

It’s beyond time this government takes the blinkers off and prepares for a future without the nitrates derogation for farmers, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Today, Ireland will present its case for renewal of the derogation to the EU’s Nitrates Committee – an application that, ultimately, looks doomed to […]

The continued downward trend in house commencement notices has been described by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne as another ominous sign that the government won’t come anywhere close to reaching its 40,000 new homes target for 2025. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Every other day seems to bring further bad news […]

Latest estimates from the Central Bank show that the government will struggle to come anywhere close to reaching its housing delivery targets over the next five years, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In its latest quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank has revised its house […]

During questions on policy and legislation today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin failed to guarantee there will be effective anti-child poverty measures in the upcoming budget, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “We’ve got record levels of child poverty, record levels of child homelessness, and tens of thousands of children waiting on […]

EU member states must be persuaded to back European Commission proposals to partially suspend the bloc’s trade agreement with Israel and impose sanctions on violent settlers and extremist ministers, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “After almost two years of genocide in Gaza, it is incredible that the EU […]

To date, the state has shown no concrete intention of adequately funding the recommendations of the Dublin City Taskforce, a status quo which must now end, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: “Fine Gael’s sudden interest in city regeneration in the run up to the 2024 […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has slammed reports of third level students having to endure shocking living conditions in seriously overcrowded accommodation. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “I am appalled at revelations that postgraduate students attending Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Limerick have been crammed […]