News

The announcement that the National Gender Service’s waiting list is to close will leave the trans community with even fewer avenues for care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice TD. Deputy Rice said: “The trans community continues to be utterly failed by the State – the National Gender Service is not fit for […]

Confirmation today that the government intends omitting services from the Occupied Territories Bill is shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Minister of State Thomas Byrne let the cat out of the bag in an interview today when he confirmed services would be omitted from the […]

Out-of-hours health services in the South East and North West are in grave danger of standstill due to strike action if the Minister for Health does not intervene quickly, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Staff at Caredoc, a Section 39 healthcare provider operating in Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford, […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Commission’s 2024 report on the use of restrictive practices in approved mental health centres, noting the significant reductions in physical and mechanical restraint and in the use of seclusion. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said: “The report […]

The sheer level of housing need in Ireland far exceeds what the government’s housing plan is delivering, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The latest report on housing need from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) shows that the government is not delivering an acceptable level of housing – it estimates […]

The Minister for Enterprise must recognise the threat artificial intelligence presents to employment and reinforce workers rights in the tech sector, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, who sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence. Deputy Gibney said: “400 workers at Covalen, a business which provides services to Meta, have been put […]

Any proposal to alter Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) rules to allow for more frequent rent increases for purpose-built student accommodation must be strongly resisted, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, said: “As part of changes to RPZ rules, the Department of Housing […]

The Minister for Children’s proposed reform of the Assessment of Needs process is deeply worrying, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The decision to overhaul the AON process for children is deeply worrying, not least because the reform was introduced with no prior consultation with teachers’ unions, school staff, or the […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has described the positive cross-party response to her Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2025 as a significant step in the right direction for animal rights in Ireland. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s agriculture spokesperson, said: “My Bill, which was debated at second stage in the Dáil today, is aimed at […]

The Irish government must strongly object to a proposal by President Trump’s administration that would oblige all tourists to disclose their social media history before entering the US, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It is truly shocking to learn that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning […]