News

Responding to news that the HSE is implementing a pause on the recruitment of non-frontline roles in some regions due to overspends, Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has called on the Minister for Health to implement the Programme for Government commitment to a multi-annual approach to health funding. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health […]

Sexual health services are being starved of funding and resources while the Minister for Health continues to pay lip service to HIV prevention, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “At today’s Health Committee meeting on sexual health services, we heard that while the HSE and […]

Today’s announcement that the State’s media regulator will investigate potential breaches of EU law by Meta is welcome, but the buck stops with the Data Protection Commission when it comes to holding tech giants responsible for their wrongdoings, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the Oireachtas AI Committee, said: […]

With Ireland now confirmed as having the highest electricity prices in the EU, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government to act immediately to tackle soaring energy costs. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “This energy crisis is with us now and getting worse by the day. Help cannot […]

The decision by the Minister for Housing to revoke funding for the regeneration of Oliver Bond flats fails to address the urgent housing needs of residents, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins and Councillor Lesley Byrne. Deputy Cummins, who represents the Dublin South-Central constituency, said: “Residents in Oliver Bond flats have been living for […]

Reneging on the election promise to cut third level fees is not a fair or viable way to address Government overspend, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The excuse that reductions in third level fees could be scrapped to compensate for overspending by other Departments punishes Ireland’s students and their […]

New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar must follow through on his commitment to EU values and reverse Hungary’s draconian anti-LGBTI law, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that Hungary’s 2021 ‘anti-LGBTI propaganda’ law breaches Article 2 of the […]

Government policy is failing many of Ireland’s small towns, according to Social Democrats spokesperson for Rural and Community Development Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “The latest CSO data on small towns paints a stark picture of the level of disadvantage faced by their communities. “Many of these towns are growing. Families are laying down roots. […]

The Government is doing nothing to address rapidly declining prison conditions, despite overcrowding reaching record highs, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “Irish prisons have been bursting at the seams for years now, yet no substantive action has been taken to address these worsening conditions by the Minister for Justice. […]

An attempt by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland to remove the term ‘pharmacological restraint’ from the Mental Health Bill invalidates the experiences of people who have been over-sedated or medicated in coercive or restrictive ways during psychiatric treatment, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson for mental […]