News

There must be urgent action from the Government to tackle the addictive nature of AI-boosted social media algorithms and the harm they cause, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the Oireachtas AI Committee, said: “A seismic court ruling in the United States has found Meta and Google deliberately designed […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has today renewed his call on the Minister for Health to consider taking legal action against BAM to push the troubled National Children’s Hospital project over the line. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “At today’s Health Committee, it was confirmed that the 18th substantial completion deadline […]

It’s time that the Government introduced a real, enforceable right to remote working, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on employment, said: “Allowing staff to work from home, where possible, has been recommended by both the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the International Energy Agency […]

Today’s announcement that over 121 of the country’s most disadvantaged schools are to receive additional supports, including hundreds of new staff, under the DEIS+ scheme is timely, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “I am delighted to finally see progress on the DEIS+ scheme – it is particularly encouraging to […]

The Government’s decision to abandon plans to move certain immigration and planning judicial review cases from the High Court to the Circuit Court is both welcome and necessary, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon TD. Deputy Gannon said: “While this decision is welcome, it should never have come to this. This proposal would […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has welcomed the Minister for Health’s confirmation that she will commence Section 232 of the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Act on April 20. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “In response to my parliamentary question, the Minister for Health has confirmed that she will commence Section 232 […]

Social Democrats higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins has criticised the Government’s newly published National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035, warning that it fails to address the core issue facing students and families which is the spiralling cost of accommodation. Deputy Cummins said: “The strategy places too much emphasis on increasing supply through the private sector, without […]

It is beyond pathetic that our Government has buried the Occupied Territories Bill while Israel ramps up its ethnic cleansing in Palestine and southern Lebanon, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The chaos of the US and Israel’s illegal war in Iran and Lebanon is providing the perfect cloak […]

The Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card makes clear that students and their families are still facing excessive pressure and insufficient supports, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins said: “The Report Card highlights ongoing concerns around school completion, pointing to the continued delay in publishing the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision, […]

Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne will introduce a bill tomorrow (Wednesday, March 25) to give people a constitutional right to housing. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “I am introducing my bill at a time when evictions and homelessness are at record levels. There is no mention of a right to housing […]