News

The €6.9bn in additional expenditure outlined in today’s Summer Economic Statement must be underpinned by proper workforce planning for future needs, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Problems highlighted in the Summer Economic Statement are mostly the result of consistent failures by Government to invest in critical infrastructure and lack of planning for […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has expressed disappointment at the Government’s failure to provide a timeframe for the introduction of legislation to make demanding sex for rent a criminal offence. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “There was an expectation that outlawing sex for rent arrangements would be included in the […]

The circumstances under which taxi licences are revoked and suspended now urgently need to be clarified  News that taxi driver Raymond Shorten is facing sentencing for the rape of a child – mere weeks after he was convicted of raping two young women in his cab – is shocking and raises questions for the taxi […]

The weekend revelations concerning the abuse of young women players represent the lowest point in the history of scandals involving the Football Association of Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on sport, said: “It was deeply unsettling to watch the RTÉ Investigates/Sunday Independent documentary as it […]

The latest report from myhome.ie is further proof that the Government is unable or unwilling to bring down the cost of buying a home, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The findings of the Q2 2024 MyHome.ie Property Price Report will come as little surprise to first-time buyers. “The median […]

The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ motion on Wednesday, July 10, calling on the Government to match its words with action on adopting a zero tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Party leader Holly Cairns said: “Just last night, a harrowing RTÉ Investigates documentary revealed details of historic abuse allegations made by […]

Recent case of rapist taxi driver is every woman’s worst nightmare  The Government must move to assure the public that the taxi regulator has sufficient powers to identify and disqualify taxi drivers who are convicted of serious sexual offences, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “In the Dáil today, the Tánaiste failed to respond […]

The Minister for Health must come into the Dáil and answer questions as to why €19m in funding specifically allocated to reduce waiting times for children’s spinal surgery was spent elsewhere, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “This latest controversy is a further betrayal of children awaiting scoliosis surgery. “In 2017, then Minister […]

The Taoiseach’s revelation today that there is a 61 per cent staff vacancy rate in primary care psychology services for young people in Cork and Kerry is deeply concerning and requires an urgent explanation from the HSE, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “While there has been much focus on the crisis in Child […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has paid tribute to former Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall after they announced they will not contest the forthcoming general election. The former co-leaders made the announcement this morning saying it was time for a new generation to take over. Catherine Murphy said: “I love my job […]