News

It’s never been clearer that the Government is writing housing policy to appease corporate landlords and investor funds, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “This morning’s statement from IRES, the State’s largest corporate landlord, makes for sickening reading. The REIT’s brazen profiteering against the backdrop of over 17,000 people in […]

Schools should not be insisting on students wearing expensive branded uniforms in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “There have been fresh warnings from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) about the burden placed on parents having to buy expensive branded uniforms from […]

It’s shocking that social media companies are allowed to accept payments from criminals to run bogus advertisements on their channels to defraud the Irish public, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “FraudSmart, the fraud awareness initiative led by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, has reported that there has been […]

There must be full accountability – and consequences – after it was revealed that diesel from an Irish Rail fuel facility has been leaking into the River Liffey for over a year, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “This week, the Journal reported that the […]

The Government’s new suicide and self-harm strategy sets out important recommendations, but they must be backed by real action on poverty, homelessness and social exclusion, as well as a serious plan to staff mental health services, according to Social Democrats mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “The new Connecting for Life strategy contains […]

The HSE’s new autism protocol must not be a substitute for proper investment in a broken system, according to Social Democrats spokesperson for mental health and disability Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “The new HSE Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol contains some positive elements. “A clearer assessment pathway for autism has been long needed. […]

Current exclusion policies applied to institutional abuse redress schemes are creating a hierarchy of survivors, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Thousands of survivors continue to face barriers to recognition and support because of arbitrary eligibility rules and exclusions. “Far too many survivors are still […]

The Government cannot continue to progress controversial Public Services Card legislation in the upcoming Social Welfare Bill until key data protection concerns are addressed, according to Social Democrats TD social protection spokesperson Eoin Hayes. Deputy Hayes, who is the party’s Social Protection spokesperson, made his comments following a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Social […]

The Government must spend less time trying to find loopholes to dodge EU fines and more time making genuine attempts to reduce our emissions, according to Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Projections by the Environmental Protection Agency show an overall reduction of 25% in  greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is possible […]

Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson will introduce a Bill today to give greater powers to prevent munitions being flown through Shannon Airport and Irish airspace, along with a suite of other measures which will seek to prevent ICE deportation flights stopping in Ireland. Senator Stephenson said: “This Bill seeks to uphold Irish neutrality, […]