News

The government must enact the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) without delay following today’s finding by the Foreign Affairs Committee that there is no legal impediment to including services, as well as goods, in the legislation, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The committee’s report, published today, clearly demonstrates that […]

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly has called on the Minister for Children to address concerns within the childcare sector relating to the core funding model. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, was commenting on reports today that a childcare provider had withdrawn a number of its Dublin-based services from the government’s funding […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has criticised the Government’s lack of support for Gaeltacht areas in the updated National Development Plan. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on the Gaeltacht, said: “The government’s updated National Development Plan includes funding for housing, energy, water and transport projects between 2026 and 2030, but fails to set […]

Tusla urgently needs an independent capacity review and a full workforce planning assessment, according to Social Democrats’ children and equality spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. In response to a Freedom of Information release of an internal Tusla report – indicating that thousands of days have been missed by care staff due to violent incidents and illness – […]

Government plans to instruct local authorities to double the amount of land zoned for housing will not guarantee the delivery of new homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Guidelines being brought to Cabinet today will require councils around the country to collectively zone enough […]

Government pledge to add 5,000 new gardaí over the next five years is little more than a pipe dream It is crucial that the new Garda Commissioner approaches the role with an open mind and an open door, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “At the outset, I would like […]

The government is attempting to ram through full ratification of the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA), despite the Supreme Court finding their previous attempt to do so was unconstitutional, without any pre-legislative scrutiny, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Senator Patricia Stephenson. Two members of the Foreign Affairs Committee – Senator Stephenson and Senator Alice […]

It is less than a week since the government published its summer economic statement, using an assumption of no tariffs The government must publish an updated summer economic statement following this evening’s 15% tariff deal between the EU and the United States, according to Social Democrats finance spokesman Cian O’Callaghan. “I welcome that a deal […]

Today’s WRC ruling gives hope to many workers in the media sector who have long been denied their rights, but they shouldn’t have to battle this out in the courts, according to Social Democrats employment and media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “We cannot avert our eyes to the glaring issues of bogus self-employment […]

Today’s record homeless numbers are another shameful milestone and an indictment of this government, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne made his comments as a new record high for homelessness was confirmed this afternoon: “Today’s figures show there were 15,915 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of July. […]