News

Delays to the latest Climate Action Plan show that the government is continuing to backslide on Ireland’s commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions by 51 per cent by 2030, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “Just one week after Minister Darragh O’Brien admitted the State would […]

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have shown they see no value in artistic and cultural endeavour through their inaction which has led to the closure of The Complex, according to Social Democrats arts and culture spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “The Complex, the multidisciplinary arts centre in Dublin’s North Inner City, announced its permanent […]

We will never solve the housing crisis as long as the government keeps rolling out the red carpet for international investor funds, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, made his comments after it was confirmed that Ireland is to take part in a major international property […]

More and more families are being priced out of essential goods as grocery costs continue to rise, according to Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Everyday items continue to rise in price in supermarkets – the Consumer Price Index for December 2025 shows that butter, milk and bread, among other essentials, cost […]

It is inexcusable that more than 30 serving and former ministers have yet to commence a process to repay pension money that was overpaid to them in error, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Last year, it emerged that 34 serving ministers, and 39 former ministers, had been overpaid as […]

The National Transport Authority (NTA) must explain how the construction of 14 steps and a ramp in a south Dublin park ended up costing more than €500,000 above the original estimate, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who sits on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “While the eventual bill of €750,000 […]

Belated assurances from X that it will geoblock its chatbot Grok from undressing images of real people are too little too late, according to Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “When edit functions were added to Grok, with the express purpose of nudifying images, Elon Musk thought it was a big joke […]

A whole of government approach is needed to bring down the financial barriers preventing students from progressing to higher education, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Last year saw a decline in students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds progressing to colleges and universities – the gap in educational inequality is widening. […]

The crisis in public dentistry has continued to deepen under this government, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice made his comments after representatives from the Irish Dental Association (IDA), Department of Health and the HSE appeared before the Oireachtas Health Committee today. He said: “In 2019, the National Oral Health Policy, […]

Donald Trump’s inflammatory words about US military intervention in Iran will bring only further pain and strife if acted on, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It’s now estimated by fact checkers with Iran International that over 12,000 people have been killed in Iran in the last week at […]