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Sunday 4 June 2023 Dublin: 18°C

# Social Democrats

Last week
28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
THE MORNING LEAD
Ireland among EU countries with the biggest increase in young adults living with their parents
A report by
David MacRedmond
For Ireland, the increase in this area was significantly higher than most of the EU.
Last month
May 2023
# abortion laws
Holly Cairns: 'Our healthcare shouldn't be informed by Leo saying he feels uncomfortable'
The SocDems leader says Ireland is still exporting the care of some pregnant women.
# Social Democrats
Cairns clarifies speech criticising lack of engagement with Clare community blockading hotel
The leader of the Social Democrats made a statement on Twitter this afternoon.
THE MORNING LEAD
Holly Cairns says she'll talk to all parties after next election but 'change' is in the air
A report by
Christina Finn
The new Social Democrats leader spoke to The Journal in a wide-ranging interview.
# Housing Crisis
Rural Independents spark debate on log cabins during Dáil motion on housing supports
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that “cowboys” could build log cabins to bring in rental income.
This year
2023
Voices
Cian O'Callaghan: Owners of vacant properties should either use it, rent it or sell it
The Social Democrats’ housing spokesperson says there can be no justification for leaving thousands of homes lying empty.
# National Coalition Party
Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin defeated by conservatives in country's general election
With the top three parties expected to each get around 20% of the vote, no party is in position to form a government alone.
# polling numbers
McDonald on the rise of Holly Cairns: 'It's extremely positive. I'm delighted for her'
Support for the Social Democrats more than doubled in a month following the election of Cairns as its new leader.
Voices
Analysis: Is Holly Cairns correct about her generation being worse off than their parents?
Despite black-and-white arguments on Twitter about that question, the reality is much more complicated, writes economist Ciarán Casey.
# holly cairns
Social Democrats' support more than doubles after Holly Cairns elected leader
Meanwhile, support for Sinn Féin still far exceeds that of any other party in the country.
# Social Democrats
Holly Cairns on not being a 'stereotypical politician', Labour's broken trust and the need for change
The West Cork TD was announced the party leader of the Social Democrats today.
# Leadership
Holly Cairns set to become leader of Social Democrats as other candidates ruled out
Co-leaders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy announced earlier this week that they were stepping down.
# leadership contest
Nominations for Social Democrats' leadership to open tomorrow morning
The party’s National Executive met this evening.
# co leaving
'Right time to hand over reins': Murphy and Shortall step down as SocDem co-leaders
The two TDs announced that a leadership election would take place at an “early date”.
# sipo's teeth
Long overdue ethics laws to keep politicians in check can't be delayed, say opposition
Minister Michael McGrath says very many of Sipo’s asks will be included in legislation reforms.
Last year
2022
# long covid
Mater Hospital confirms Long Covid Clinic is set to close in December due to a lack of funding
However, a spokesperson for the hospital said it is willing to extend the operation of the Long Covid clinic into the new year.
# Redress
'€5,000 for your child being taken? You would get multiples of that for a whiplash injury'
Opposition TDs have sharply criticised the Mother and Baby Homes redress scheme.
# budget 2023
Social Protection Minister appears to rule out €20 increase in social welfare payments
Minister Humphreys said there ‘won’t be any money left’ for other measures if this were done.
# Social Democrats
'That's the plan': Murphy and Shortall to lead Soc Dems into the next general election as co-leaders
The party think-in is taking place in Dublin today.
# Cost of Living
Housing is government's 'biggest failure', Social Democrats say at national conference
Members of the Social Democrats convened today for its first in-person conference since 2019.
All time
# Alternative budgets
Rent freeze, free transport, more homes: Here's what other parties say they would do if in power
A refundable tax credit is contained in Sinn Féin’s alternative budget.
# goodbye merkel
Social Democrats likely contenders to lead German coalition government as exploratory talks begin
Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel will remain in office until a new government is in place.
# rent crisis
Berlin proposal 'isn't necessarily' the answer to Ireland's housing woes, says Eoin Ó Broin
Berliners voted in favour of forcing large landlords to hand over apartments to the state.
# goodbye merkel
Post-election haggling begins in Germany as multiple parties seek to form government coalition
For a country used to political stability after 16 years of Angela Merkel’s steady leadership, the coming weeks and months promise to be a rocky ride.
Preliminary official results showed that the centre-left Social Democrats narrowly won the vote.
Angela Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrat bloc had its worst result since 1949.
Would-be successor Armin Laschet claims right to try to build the next government .
# Defence Forces
Opposition parties call for inquiry into abuse in the Defence Forces
Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and Labour have called for an independent inquiry into the issue, which was revealed in an RTÉ documentary today.
# party meeting
Social Democrats have 'no desire' to merge with the Labour Party
Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall confirmed that it is their intention to lead the party into the next general election.
# Letter
Group of Social Democrats members call for party leadership contest
A statement from the Social Democrats parliamentary party says it is “united” behind the current co-leaders.
# Pregnancy
Maternity partner restrictions raised again in Dáil as Taoiseach told all units compliant
Micheál Martin said the HSE issued “very, very clear guidance” to maternity units on the restrictions.
# garda powers
Opposition parties say pushing out Covid-19 emergency powers to November is a step too far
Stephen Donnelly has said he will amend the law so that a three-month extension in November is the only one permitted.
# Intellectual Property
Irish pharma lobby criticises Covid vaccine IP waiver but campaigners say drugmakers have 'lost the argument'
Amnesty boss Colm O’Gorman has accused drug companies of ‘reprehensible scaremongering’.
# cuckoo funds
Government to support Soc Dems legislation to stop state deals with cuckoo funds
The legislation, drafted by Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan, will be debated today in the Dáil.
# any gaffs
Irish government policy is incentivising property funds to buy up entire housing estates, say opposition
Round Hill Capital bought 135 homes at a new development in Kildare.
# maternity hospitals
Healthcare workers being vaccinated 'will be taken into consideration' in reviewing maternity hospital restrictions
The easing of maternity hospital restrictions was not included in the government’s roadmap for reopening the country.
# Investigation
Social Democrats vote unanimously to push government towards clear redress scheme for Mother and Baby Home survivors
At the party’s national conference, Social Democrats voted to call on the government to prioritise addressing survivors’ concerns.
# mother-and-baby homes
TDs ask how testimony 'miraculously appeared down back of sofa', as time runs out to extend Commission
A Social Democrats’ motion to extend the commission’s term by one year had broad support but is non-binding and is not being acted on by government.
# deleted audio
TDs still pushing for extension of Mother and Baby Homes Commission despite 'miraculous' recovery of testimony
The commission is due to dissolve on 28 February but a number of TDs want its term extended amid concerns over deleted audio recordings.
# deleted audio
Call for TDs to get free vote on extension of Mother and Baby Homes Commission
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said the issue “goes beyond party politics”.
# greyhound debate
Holly Cairns TD invites greyhound industry board member who called her 'an ignorant little girl' to a live debate
The tweet was sent by a board member of Greyhound Racing Ireland and liked by a Fine Gael TD.
Voices
Holly Cairns: The greyhound industry is inherently cruel – so why should the taxpayer fund it?
The Social Democrats TD says it defies logic that the greyhound industry should receive an increase of €2.4m on top of its already high funding.
# Election
Social Democrats member alleged to have voted twice in general election
Gardaí in Mallow confirmed that they are investigating an allegation of someone voting twice.