News

The new Minister for Finance must break the cycle of reckless budget overruns, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan made his comments after the delayed publication of the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal and Structural Plan. He said: “Overruns have already reached €4.1 billion this year. This habit of overspending is not a […]

The government must protect students from being ripped-off when it comes to accommodation, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Speaking in support of today’s protest, Deputy Cummins said: “Today’s cross-party protest with AMLÉ (formerly known as the Union of Students Ireland) called on the government to address the hardship faced by students when […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has expressed grave concern following the findings of an investigation into Bloomfield Hospital in south Dublin, which details serious incidents of mistreatment and abuse of residents. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said: “The findings contained in this report are deeply disturbing. Evidence that residents were […]

The government must extend the payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid before it lapses on New Years Eve, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “The special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers with long COVID is going to end in […]

A new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) reveals some uncomfortable truths about the government’s prospects of meeting its climate action targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The SEAI’s 2024 Energy in Ireland report states that we have failed to break […]

The government’s decision to renege on promises to roll out a public model of childcare is shortsighted and lacking in ambition, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “I’m deeply disappointed that there’s been no mention of the provision of public childcare in the Minister for Children’s action plan for the sector. […]

Councillor Daniel Ennis, who represents Dublin’s North Inner City, has been selected as the Social Democrats candidate to contest the upcoming Dublin Central by-election. The election, which is expected to take place in April or May, will see the Social Democrats aim to secure a second seat in the constituency alongside Gary Gannon TD Daniel […]

Appropriate healthcare services in the Mid-West cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought by government, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Option C – the development of a Model 3 hospital with an emergency department in the Mid-West region – cannot be put on the long finger. “Another ED […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the government’s intention to finally move on her repeated calls to grant the Agri-Food Regulator increased powers to improve transparency in food supply chains. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s agriculture spokesperson, said: “With suspected price gouging by supermarkets continuing to squeeze household budgets, it’s more important than […]

The scrapping of the plan to introduce a cap on the value of homes eligible for the State’s vacant property grant is a backwards step in affordable housing provision, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The government has failed to cap the value of homes that are eligible for the […]