News

Third level students are set to be betrayed by the government in tomorrow’s Budget, with a cut of just €500 in college fees expected to be announced, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “Students and their families had become accustomed to […]

The Irish Government must do all it can to get detainees from the Sumud flotilla released from prison in Israel, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, a TD for Dublin North West said: “One of my constituents Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais was abducted illegally by Israel when he was aboard the global Sumud […]

Online footage of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking illegally detained flotilla campaigners has been slammed by Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It is disgusting, but hardly surprising, to see such appalling behaviour from Minister Ben-Gvir, who embodies everything that is wrong about this terror state right-wing government – a […]

It’s concerning that the Environment Minister has not provided details of his meeting with energy companies a week on, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “With great fanfare, it was announced that Environment Minister Darragh O’Brien would be meeting with energy providers to discuss the cost of gas and electricity […]

The government must act on the recommendations of a new report which found that using more standardised housing designs and modern methods of construction could slash homebuilding costs by up to an eighth, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The conclusions of this study, commissioned […]

The Developer Profit Transparency Bill 2025, if passed, would unpack the reasons why housing delivery is stunted in Ireland, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The aim of the bill is to shed light on the profit levels of developers who benefit from government housing schemes and subsidies – it’s […]

Budget 2026 must strike a balance between protecting our economic security, dealing with the long-term challenges we face as a society, and providing targeted support to hard-pressed households, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Speaking at today’s launch of ‘Better Services, Stronger Communities – Alternative Budget 2026’, Deputy Cairns said: “When we launched our […]

The Minister for Health must progress the option of building a Model 3 hospital in the Mid-West following the completion of a HIQA review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the region, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “I welcome that this review has […]

The inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida care in Children’s Health Ireland must be more than a box ticking exercise which results in a report devoid of solutions, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “I welcome the government’s commitment to hold this public inquiry into CHI, however, it must be […]

The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ motion on Wednesday (October 1) calling for the abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance in next week’s Budget. Liam Quaide TD, who is the party’ spokesperson on social protection, said: “Pre-budget kite-flying by the government over the weekend suggests there will be modest increases in income […]