News

The CORU regulation process for counselling and psychotherapy must be immediately paused as it weakens professional standards and protections for the public, according to Social Democrats mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “CORU, the State’s health regulator, has adopted a position that is entirely at odds with the main representative groups for counselling […]

Yesterday’s attack on our peacekeepers in southern Lebanon was a grave violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, according to Social Democrats defence spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “The protection of our defence forces partaking in a UNIFIL mission in Lebanon should always be our highest priority when it comes to peacekeeping. “Any attack […]

Allowing Israel to participate in Eurovision 2026 is an abhorrent decision by the European Broadcasting Union, according to Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “RTÉ is to be commended for following up on its commitment to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel was allowed to take part. “It is outrageous […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, has cautiously welcomed proposals by the HSE for a new 75-bed acute mental health service on the St Stephen’s Hospital campus in Glanmire. Deputy Quaide, who worked as a clinical psychologist in the North Cork mental health services from 2013 to 2021, […]

The government must use every tool at its disposal to support Seán Binder as he faces 20-years in a Greek prison for the crime of saving lives, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “In 2017, Seán Binder showed limitless compassion and bravery when he, and a group of humanitarian […]

The closure of The Complex arts centre will have devastating effects for Dublin’s cultural scene, according to Social Democrats arts spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “The Complex has been home to exhibitions, gigs, and studio spaces since 2019 – it is now one of the most established cultural hubs in the city, with its […]

Changes to phased dispensing under the new Community Pharmacy Agreement is effectively a cost-cutting measure that will compromise patient safety, according to Social Democrats Health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “The Minister claims that the introduction of ‘improved controls’ around phased dispensing is being done in a way that puts patient safety first. However, […]

The government must do everything possible to prevent a group of institutional abuse survivors from resuming a hunger strike, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on education, said: “Three and a half weeks have now passed since these four survivors – who were wronged in childhood and […]

Government decisions are a core barrier to the development of the infrastructure essential for housing provision, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The Government is trying to ignore that it has been decades of underinvestment, poor delivery, management and planning by successive Fianna Fail and Fine Gael governments that has […]

The government has turned its back on vulnerable families by ignoring advice to provide targeted energy credits this winter, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Without energy credits, the average household will be hit by an extra €321 in electricity costs per year – vulnerable families will indefinitely be pushed […]