News

Covid-19 continues to expose glaring gaps in the provision of mental health services, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Speaking in the Dáil today, Holly said: “The pandemic is taking its toll on everyone’s mental health. This is especially felt by people living alone; young people who are denied their usual social outlets; and […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has expressed concern at the steady rise in the number of childcare workers migrating to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. In a reply to a parliamentary question from Deputy Whitmore, the Minister for Social Protection revealed that the number of childcare workers availing of PUP has risen from […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government not to dissolve the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to allow for a full investigation into the deletion of recordings of survivors’ testimonies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The commission is due to be dissolved on February […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called on the Minister for Housing to correct the Dáil record following misleading statements in relation to standards in homeless hostels. Cian O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson for Housing, said: “In the Dáil last Thursday, the Minister for Housing stated that the National Quality Standards Framework applies to […]

The Government must commit to a just transition climate change model to ensure that low-income families are not plunged deeper into fuel poverty, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Energy poverty remains a huge problem in […]

Speaking after today’s Health Committee session on Covid-19 in nursing homes, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, expressed her serious concern and disappointment that so little has changed since the first wave of the pandemic. Deputy Shortall commented: “It is shocking that we are now seeing a second tragic wave of Covid-19 in […]

Tá sé fógartha ag na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta nach cuimsitheach ná cumhachtach go leor é Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, in ainneoin na 300 leasuithe a bhí molta ag lucht an fhreasúra nuige seo, agus céad leasú astu diúltaithe. “Tá pobail áirithe na Gaeilge timpeall na tíre seo, idir muintir na Gaeltachta go cainteoirí agus teaghlaigh lán-Ghaeilge, […]

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins will be calling for gender balance on Fingal County Council’s Corporate Policy Group (CPG) when she puts forward a motion at this month’s council meeting. The Corporate Policy Group is made up of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the Chairs of the council’s six Special Policy Committees. Its function includes preparing […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed today’s news that the European Medicines Agency has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine for authorisation in the EU. Deputy Shortall commented: “Today’s news that the EMA has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine will come as a relief, especially to older people. “It is regrettable that, at this […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has welcomed confirmation that the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is to immediately release all captured hares back into the wild. Deputy Whitmore had raised concerns after the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, conceded recently that some hares may have […]