News

It is concerning that Ireland has failed to make progress on LGBTQIA+ rights, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Today ILGA Europe published its annual Rainbow Map, which ranks European countries in terms of LGBTQIA+ human rights and policy protections. Ireland is once again ranked […]

The Social Democrats today announced a five-point plan to increase the supply of affordable housing in Gaeltacht areas. The Gaeltacht Housing Plan was launched in An Spidéal by Galway West by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich and the party’s housing spokesperson Rory Hearne TD. Speaking at the launch of the plan, Mide Nic Fhionnlaoich said: “The […]

The Minister for Education must publish the number of children currently awaiting special education school places, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The Department of Education should work with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to make the figures publicly available in the same way that the Department of […]

The Minister for Health has buried her head in the sand and allowed the crisis in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to worsen on her watch, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “The Minister for Health should have intervened to avert today’s work-to-rule, but instead […]

The drug trade must not be allowed to ravage our most disadvantaged areas any longer, according to Social Democrats Councillor Daniel Ennis and justice spokesperson Gary Gannon TD. Councillor Ennis said: “Over 1,000 cases of drug-related intimidation were recorded by drug and alcohol services in 2025, which affected all age groups, including children and the […]

It is scandalous that more than half a billion euro raised for climate action measures through a fuel tax has been left unspent when it could have been used for the rollout of a nationwide solar panel installation programme, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, […]

The Government’s sudden interest in nuclear energy is a distraction tactic to mask their huge failures in developing this country’s biggest natural resource – off-shore wind. That’s according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “As an island nation, we should be a world leader in off-shore wind and a net exporter […]

An unending string of damning reports has made it impossible to have full and unreserved trust in Tusla, and action must be taken to take children out of harm’s way, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “Today’s report from the Health Information and Quality Authority, which found that children were […]

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 […]