News

It is shameful that it took a hunger strike by survivors of industrial and reformatory schools to extract a State apology from the government, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “While it is welcome that the Taoiseach has agreed to make a formal apology in the Dáil, this is the […]

Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes has called on the Minister for Social Protection to withdraw and apologise for misguided comments he made in the Dáil this morning during a debate on the cost of having a disability in Ireland. Deputy Hayes, who is the party’s spokesperson on social protection, said: “During today’s debate on our […]

Amazon staff must be provided with assurances from the government that they will be adequately supported if faced with redundancy, according to Social Democrats enterprise spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “Reports that Amazon is to cut 16,000 jobs are extremely concerning for the 6,500 staff employed by the multinational company in Ireland. “Today, I […]

The Dáil will today debate a Social Democrats’ motion calling on the government to introduce an emergency winter payment of €400 for disabled people within a month. Eoin Hayes TD, who is the party’s spokesperson on social protection, said: “Not only did Budget 2026 fail to include a cost of disability payment, it left disabled […]

The devastation caused by Storm Chandra across the country is shocking but not surprising given a lack of flood preparedness from government, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Storm Chandra has caused devastation across the country, with flooding in Wexford, Wicklow and parts of Dublin being particularly bad. Thousands of […]

The abolition of the triple lock would be the final nail in the coffin for Ireland’s neutrality as we know it, according to Social Democrats defence spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney made her comments as the Cabinet met today to sign off on the Defence Amendment Bill. The legislation will result in the removal of […]

The government must not introduce disastrous rental measures which will allow landlords to increase rents between tenancies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “There’s huge concern and fear among renters that the rental measures discussed at Cabinet today will lead to higher rents – every expert at the Oireachtas Housing […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called for earlier intervention and speedier referrals to the Education Welfare Service (EWS) to reduce long-term absenteeism rates in schools. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, was responding to new research from the ESRI which found that children attending special and DEIS schools in the most socio-economically […]

The death of a 16 year old girl in Finglas following last night’s collision involving a scrambler bike is a devastating tragedy for her family, her friends and her community, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne, who represents the Dublin North-West constituency. Deputy Hearne said: “I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has criticised the HSE after the Minister for Mental Health was unable to provide the Dáil with information on approved psychology posts in older adult mental health services. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said: “Minister Mary Butler’s failure to answer a straightforward question about workforce […]