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Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has paid tribute to former Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall after they announced they will not contest the forthcoming general election. The former co-leaders made the announcement this morning saying it was time for a new generation to take over. Catherine Murphy said: “I love my job […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has paid tribute to former co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall as they announce they will not contest the forthcoming general election. “Catherine and Róisín are trailblazers in Irish politics and have accomplished an incredible amount in careers that spanned decades of committed political work and dedicated public service. “Róisín […]

The Minister for Mental Health must come up with an urgent plan to address the crisis in primary care psychology services for children and adolescents in Cork and Kerry, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “In response to a parliamentary question I submitted, the HSE revealed that the total number of young people on […]

The Government’s ongoing refusal to fund additional adult inpatient beds for the treatment of eating disorders has been described as shameful by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “Patients with eating disorders continue to be abandoned by this Government. Disgracefully, there are just three public inpatient beds in the country for the treatment of eating disorders […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has expressed disgust and outrage at the fully suspended sentence handed down to a serving member of the Defence Forces who viciously beat a young woman unconscious in Limerick. “People around the country are shocked and angered by the leniency of the three-year suspended sentence that Cathal Crotty received, despite […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has paid tribute to the party’s three candidates in the European Elections. Deputy Cairns said: “I could not be prouder of the exceptional campaigns run by Rory Hearne, Susan Doyle and Sinéad Gibney in Midlands-North-West, Ireland South and Dublin respectively. “This was the first time the party contested all three […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has hailed the party’s impressive local election results – and said the party is well placed for any coming general election. Deputy Cairns said: “The Social Democrats are on course to nearly double the number of councillors we elected in 2019, from 19 to at least 35. “The party has […]

In light of RTÉ’s own spectacular u-turn, the Social Democrats have again written to RTÉ to reiterate our request that our Ireland South candidate Susan Doyle be allowed to participate in the upcoming tv debate RTÉ’s decision to change the qualifying criteria for its tv debate for Limerick’s directly elected mayor means there is no […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has warmly welcomed the Government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine but called for further pressure on Israel to end the carnage in Gaza. “The Social Democrats have long called for the Government to match its strong words of condemnation with action – and this is a historic move […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leadership. “Charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant include causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war – including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies – and […]