News

It is absolutely terrifying to think that in Ireland in 2025, people can be tracked right to their very door through data that is being openly sold, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “This is a breach of privacy and, as Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson rightly pointed out, a […]

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) must immediately reverse its decision not to attend this week’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Sport and Media, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who sits on the committee and is the party’s spokesperson on sport, said: “Part of respecting sport as a public good is […]

Newly published guidelines for special needs assistants will harm some of the most vulnerable children in our schools, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “These guidelines do not represent progress – they are designed to ration resources, not to support children. “At a time when schools are already under huge […]

Growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by the international community, while welcome, must be matched with punitive sanctions to force Israel to end its genocidal campaign in Gaza, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Following yesterday’s declarations by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal, today’s session of the UN General […]

It’s beyond time this government takes the blinkers off and prepares for a future without the nitrates derogation for farmers, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Today, Ireland will present its case for renewal of the derogation to the EU’s Nitrates Committee – an application that, ultimately, looks doomed to […]

The continued downward trend in house commencement notices has been described by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne as another ominous sign that the government won’t come anywhere close to reaching its 40,000 new homes target for 2025. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Every other day seems to bring further bad news […]

The Minister for Children must establish a statutory review mechanism for children, known to Tusla, who disappear and die, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly TD. Deputy Farrelly said: “Yesterday, after a long search, the remains of Daniel Aruebose were found in Donabate – Daniel had been missing for four years before anyone […]

Latest estimates from the Central Bank show that the government will struggle to come anywhere close to reaching its housing delivery targets over the next five years, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In its latest quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank has revised its house […]

During questions on policy and legislation today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin failed to guarantee there will be effective anti-child poverty measures in the upcoming budget, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “We’ve got record levels of child poverty, record levels of child homelessness, and tens of thousands of children waiting on […]

EU member states must be persuaded to back European Commission proposals to partially suspend the bloc’s trade agreement with Israel and impose sanctions on violent settlers and extremist ministers, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “After almost two years of genocide in Gaza, it is incredible that the EU […]