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Supermarket price probe must lead to decisive action to ease costs for families

The latest consumer watchdog probe into grocery prices must have teeth, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Speaking ahead of the party’s motion on supermarket transparency this Wednesday, Deputy Whitmore said: “The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has re-opened a probe into grocery prices, but the government has failed to give it requisite powers […]

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Housing Minister repeating mistakes of the past by slashing apartment sizes

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 […]

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Soc Dems’ motion calls for transparency on profits generated by supermarkets

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 […]

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€64m proposal for St. Stephen’s Hospital, Cork, will deny residents the right to community living

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 […]

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Government’s move to increase personal injury payouts will drive up premiums

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 […]

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Ireland’s waterways paying a high price for nitrates derogation

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 […]

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Government’s two-track approach to college fee reduction won’t wash with students

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 […]

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