News

It is madness that the Government refuses to adopt solar energy on a large scale to protect consumers from price shocks in the energy market, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Wholesale energy prices are up 19% in just a month as war raged in the Middle East, yet the […]

The Taoiseach does not believe that Tusla should be subject to an independent review as he believes it will paralyse the organisation, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “The volume of social workers in Tusla who have gotten in touch and expressed their concern about recently undertaken reforms is a […]

For too long, sexual health services have been treated as little more than an afterthought by the State, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “A new Sexual Health Strategy was published last year, three years after the previous one expired, but […]

The Government is putting AirBnB ahead of renters as short term rental legislation is delayed, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne and Galway West byelection candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich. Deputy Hearne said: “It’s been a year since Enterprise Minister Peter Burke secured Cabinet approval to publish the General Scheme of the new Short […]

Social media giants should not be allowed to make money from hosting fraudulent ads, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Research published this morning by the Central Bank showed that more than one in three people have been the victims of fraud, and almost two-thirds have lost money as a […]

We were elected to ensure our laws are fit for purpose – and it is high time we got on with doing that job New legislation to amend our abortion law, and ensure women no longer have to travel when they receive a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality, is being introduced in the Dáil […]

An initiative by Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson, which will result in free travel for three months for those fleeing domestic violence, is to be introduced as a standalone scheme by Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary. Senator Stephenson said: “This proposal, which has received broad cross-party support, was introduced last October as my very first […]

The quiet phasing-out of early intervention classes for autistic children is being presented by Government as inclusion, when in reality it amounts to an essential provision being scaled back to meet shortages elsewhere, according to Social Democrats disability spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “I received a parliamentary reply which shows that the Department of […]

The Government must take political responsibility and oversight of Uisce Éireann following more unplanned outages throughout the country, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who sits on the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “Outages in Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Tipperary and Wexford following a dry spell in recent days came only weeks […]

The considerable potential of solar panels to reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels – and bring down energy bills for households and businesses – continues to be a blind spot for this Government, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Simon Harris revealed over the […]