News

Disabled people will experience increased hardship this winter because of the government’s failure to introduce a weekly cost of disability payment and other targeted supports in the budget, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Speaking on International Day of Disabled Persons, Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “Next Tuesday, the […]

The publication today of the Accelerating Infrastructure report is overshadowed by the government’s decision to postpone delivery of DART+ South West and the Luas extension to Finglas, according to Social Democrats Finance, Public Expenditure and Infrastructure spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “At today’s launch of Accelerating Infrastructure, bold claims were made by the Taoiseach, […]

“Today’s historic visit by President Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska provides the people of Ireland with a timely opportunity to reaffirm our solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine. “It’s now approaching four years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine began. With the country under relentless attack from Putin’s murderous regime, the Ukrainian people have […]

Today’s report from the Health Information and Quality Authority lays bare Tusla’s inability to deliver on its mission to protect vulnerable children and young people, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “When children are telling inspectors that their life has gotten worse since coming into care, you have to question […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for immediate government action after it emerged today that just 10 per cent of Ireland’s historic landfills have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “Waste from old landfills is buried underground in every county in Ireland, often […]

The Irish prison system is in crisis as overcrowding continues to spiral out of control, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “The Irish Penal Reform Trust said this morning that the Irish prison system is overstretched, overwhelmed and inhumane. We’ve known this for some time now, and the situation continues […]

Ireland’s infrastructure delivery is the slowest in Europe – a damning indictment of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The Government’s announcement of emergency legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects is a belated admission of failure, according to Social Democrats Finance and Public Expenditure spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “According to the Draghi Report on EU […]

The government must immediately respond to weekend reports that it is set to abandon plans to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Yesterday’s report in the Irish Mail on Sunday is deeply concerning. Quoting unnamed Cabinet sources, it suggests the government is set to […]

While the NDP Sectoral Plan for Health includes much-needed projects to improve our health service, crucial details are missing in terms of their delivery, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Following the publication of an underwhelming NDP last July, this Sectoral Plan for Health is long overdue. Much of our […]

The government is continuing to ignore proposals that would deliver homes in favour of the same old doomed policies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “One year ago, on the day of General Election 2024, the number of people in emergency accommodation was 14,996. That figure today is 16,766. “Shockingly, […]