News

Social Democrats’ Spokesperson for Children, Councillor Jennifer Whitmore, has said the Department of Education must ensure that structural inspections on all 42 schools built by Western Building Systems will be concluded before the end of the mid-term break. “All affected schools need to know with certainty that these assessments will be carried out within the […]

Responding to reports today that two Dublin schools have been shut down after structural problems were discovered in the buildings, Social Democrats Councillor Cian O’Callaghan said: “There is no excuse for the inaction by the Department – there should have been immediate inspection and audits of all similar schools that were built by Western Building […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to compel the HSE to release smear slides to women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy so they can be independently reviewed. “In our recent Alternative Budget we proposed that the Government set aside funding for a deposit and return scheme […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today described as inexcusable the Taoiseach’s refusal to give a commitment to bring any future agreement about the new National Maternity Hospital before the Dáil in advance of it being signed off. “There is grave concern, especially among women, about the fact that it is proposed to transfer ownership […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has taken the government to task for failing to deliver effective corruption law reforms despite repeated promises and re-hashed plans. “The Social Democrats have long recognised the need for a more coordinated approach to tackling corruption and corporate crime. As far back as November 2015, we proposed the creation […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has lodged an official complaint with the Ceann Comhairle’s office following a refusal by Minister Pat Breen’s office to answer, in the specified timeframe, a parliamentary question she had asked regarding his engagements with Mr David McCourt and bidders in the National Broadband Plan process. “It is exceptionally unusual for […]

The Social Democrats today called for a Yes vote in next week’s referendum to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution on the grounds that it is outdated, obsolete and unnecessary. “The removal of the offence of blasphemy is yet one more step along the way to the full separation of Church and State.” […]

Deputy Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats today hit out at Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy for the fact that over 300 cases with An Bord Pleanála are awaiting a decision for more than six months. “Minister for Health Simon Harris must make it a top priority for the HSE to agree this important protocol […]

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has received a parliamentary reply showing that the former Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, met with representatives of Enet including PR advisor to Enet, Eoin O’Neachtain, in December 2016, to discuss Enet’s management of the Municipal Area Networks (MANs) just 3 months before former Minister for Communications Denis Naughten made […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to compel the HSE to release smear slides to women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy so they can be independently reviewed. “The favourable tax treatment that the government offers international investment funds is squeezing first time buyers out of the […]