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What we have is a back-to-the-future housing minister, repeating the mistakes of the past, who is doomed to fail The Housing Minister’s big idea to increase housing supply is to dust off housing policies implemented by his predecessors that have demonstrably failed, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. “Today the Minister has announced […]

With households continuing to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, the Social Democrats will bring a motion before the Dáil next week calling for full transparency on profits being generated by supermarkets. Jennifer Whitmore TD, who will introduce the motion on Wednesday, July 9, said: “Families and individuals across the country are finding it extremely difficult […]

It is now all but inevitable that Ireland will face billions in EU fines for not meeting its legally binding emissions reduction targets by 2030, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “The latest assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must not be ignored. It […]

The HSE’s proposal to invest €64m developing a 50-bed residential mental health service on the grounds of St. Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire, is an attempt to move back to the dark ages of service provision, according to Social Democrats mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “It is entirely at odds with the progressive trend […]

Rubberstamping this increase without proper scrutiny amounts to a dereliction of duty from government, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who’s the party’s finance spokesperson, said: “The report from the National Claims Information Database (NCID), released by the Central Bank, indicates that the cost of motor claims increased by 23% during […]

The government cannot continue to take a head in the sand approach to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in our rivers, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, was responding to the latest water quality monitoring report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She said: “The […]

The government’s intention to examine a two-track approach to college fee reductions is fundamentally flawed and fails to honour previous promises made to students, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “Any proposal to offer partial relief to some students while maintaining […]

Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan has expressed the party’s deepest condolences at the news of the passing of Brother Kevin Crowley. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “Brother Kevin was a champion of Dublin’s most vulnerable. He devoted his life to the service of those in need through his work with the Capuchin Centre, which he founded […]

The expansion of the ‘quieter carriage’ initiative on Iarnród Éireann services would result in a more inclusive and work-friendly travel experience for passengers, according to Social Democrats transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Quieter carriages have proved extremely popular since they were reintroduced on the Dublin to Cork service back in 2022 and there […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice has welcomed the publication of the HSE’s review of insourcing and outsourcing in the health service. Deputy Rice, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “Ahead of this morning’s Health Committee sitting, the Minister for Health published the HSE’s review of insourcing and outsourcing, which identified serious […]