News

This condescending commentary is in stark contrast to the approach taken by the government when a man was in the Áras Instead of issuing patronising statements about its role in setting foreign policy, the government should condemn the United States and Israel’s illegal attack on Iran, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. […]

It is highly inappropriate that the Minister for Housing is attending an international property conference in France this week aimed at enticing more vulture funds to Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “It is extremely disappointing that the Minister did not heed my call […]

Seachtain na Gaeilge must be used as an opportunity to focus on how we can keep the Irish language alive, and how we can support the communities that speak it, according to the Social Democrats’ Galway West by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich. Míde said: “We have much to be proud of when it comes to […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has criticised the Minister for Children’s response to the recent High Court ruling in relation to two institutions wrongly excluded from the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. Deputy Cairns said: “The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme has been needlessly discriminatory since its inception, with 24,000 people excluded from […]

The government’s proposed changes to the Assessment of Need (AON) process — currently going through pre-legislative scrutiny in the Oireachtas — is essentially cover for years of service development failure, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability and mental health, said: “Pre-legislative scrutiny with service providers, […]

Previous contractual commitments given to newly qualified paramedics must be honoured, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, the party’s health spokesperson, made his comments after raising the issue in the Dáil today. He said: “For the first time, newly qualified paramedics will not be offered permanent contracts. Instead, this cohort of graduates […]

The emergence of leaked video footage today makes a nonsense of claims by the Minister for Housing that eviction notices issued to tenants in 36 properties in Wexford last week were not related to the government’s new rent regulations, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “In the leaked video, the landlord’s […]

The government must introduce a targeted €400 energy credit to help people who are struggling with soaring energy prices, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The war in the Middle East is now in its sixth day and the price of oil and gas is continuing to skyrocket. The average […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called on the Department of Education to provide urgent clarity to schools, families and staff on the long-awaited SNA workforce development plan, warning that continued delays are creating ongoing uncertainty. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “At the Oireachtas Education Committee today, I called on the […]

The Minister for Housing’s planned attendance at a major international property event in France next week – aimed at wooing more investor funds to Ireland – has been branded an absolute disgrace by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “It has been reported today that property developers […]