Taoiseach’s lead role in Garda crime PR campaign is jaw-dropping

The Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has described as ‘jaw-dropping’ reports today about the Taoiseach’s lead role in a planned major public relations campaign around Garda crime statistics. The Kildare North TD was reacting to a report on RTÉ’s This Week programme that the Taoiseach last year suggested a PR campaign in relation to […]

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Lack of transparency over Taoiseach’s planning intervention is cause for alarm

The Social Democrats have expressed serious concern that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s meddling in the planning process for a wind farm at the behest of Donald Trump left no trace in official planning files. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “The Taoiseach has now changed his story about what actions he took after he was […]

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Senior civil servants must answer questions before PAC on SCU

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has today called for senior civil servants Martin Fraser and Robert Watt to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to answer questions about the operation of the Strategic Communications Unit. Deputy Murphy, who is a member of the PAC, said: “An alarming aspect of the work of the SCU […]

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Taoiseach must publish details of instructions given to regional press for Ireland 2040 advertisements

The Social Democrats have called on the Taoiseach to publish instructions given by officials to agencies which placed Ireland 2040 advertisements in local and regional newspapers which look like news coverage. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “The Taoiseach needs to publish exactly what instructions were given by the Strategic Communications Unit to Mediaforce […]

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Fine Gael has already forgotten the lessons of last year’s General Election

As Fine Gael gather for their think-in it seems that they have already forgotten what they were told by the electorate last year – “people want decent services not tax cuts,” claimed Roisin Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. “The Taoiseach and his Cabinet colleagues are hung up on the notion of tax cuts […]

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