News

We cannot afford to place greater strain on the national energy grid by removing the ban on data centre development in Dublin, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “I have major concerns with plans which went to cabinet this morning which seek to lift the ban on the development of […]

Former Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe must appear before an Oireachtas committee to answer questions about the government’s decision to provide an extra €10 million to the World Bank prior to him taking up a senior position with the international development organisation, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s finance […]

The government is once again suggesting that refugees are placing unsustainable pressure on our systems, but the facts do not support this claim, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “This morning’s announcement that refugees will be forced to wait three years before they can seek family reunification is yet another […]

Legislation and proactive resourcing is urgently required to tackle spiralling hospital waiting lists, which present a genuine threat to the health and wellbeing of thousands around the country, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Almost 120,000 patients have been on a hospital waiting list for over a year – how […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has reiterated her support for school secretaries and caretakers as their dispute goes before the Labour Court today. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “I welcome today’s development that the long-running dispute involving school secretaries and caretakers will be heard by the Labour Court. This is exactly […]

It’s Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan, not the law, that can’t keep up with technology, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the Oireachtas AI Committee, said: “Nobody is denying that users who request Child Sexual Abuse Images bear legal responsibility for the production of those images. But X, the platform […]

The government decision to vote against the Mercosur trade deal is too little too late, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “The government spent the entire year failing to build alliances with like‑minded EU countries in opposition to Mercour, which it explicitly committed to in the Programme for Government. “The […]

A Social Democrats’ motion calling on Dublin City Council to recognise housing as a fundamental human right will be debated by councillors on Monday. The motion, tabled by Cllr Lesley Byrne, outlines a number of actions the council must take to enshrine this principle in all its housing policies and actions. It sets out the […]

Tusla must confirm if it went ahead with a major reform programme despite serious concerns being raised by more than 100 senior staff, according to Social Democrats Children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “A letter sent to the Tusla CEO by principal social workers sets out a catalogue of serious concerns with a reform […]

The overwhelming demand for so-called ‘affordable’ apartments and houses at the former O’Devaney Gardens flats complex in Dublin highlights the desperation of a generation locked out of home ownership, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Over 1,000 people have applied to buy 99 affordable homes […]