Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
# Social Democrats
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# Budget 2021
Opposition TDs hit out at lack of 'certainty and hope' but minister says 'there's no crystal ball for the pandemic'
This afternoon, the government unveiled its Budget for 2021.
# green wave
Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu does not rule out joining Social Democrats
Chu is currently a Green Party councillor and the party’s Chairperson.
# pollsters
Fine Gael remains on top with Sinn Féin in second while Greens drop sharply in latest opinion poll
Approval with the government has plummeted since June according to the latest opinion poll.
# golfgate
Amid criticism of Brian Hayes' attendance at Golfgate dinner, the Banking Culture Board says it's not getting involved
Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall says ‘it’s a bit rich’.
# new parents
'Maternity leave is a human right': TD calls for parental leave for TDs
Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns says it is ‘incredible’ that it does not already exist.
# Cutbacks
Overwhelming majority of Irish people expect austerity to return after the pandemic
Opposition parties and trade unions have made strong statements in recent weeks against possible public spending cuts.
# Soc Dems Out
Social Democrats rule out entering coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael
The party raised concerns about austerity in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
# government formation
Soc Dems meet to consider FF-FG policy doc, but they want more detail
The party wrote to Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar asking for more detail about the fiscal underpinning.
# Coronavirus
Catherine Murphy: Revenue's relaxation of residency rules for Irish tax exiles is 'tone deaf'
Normally, citizens who have chosen to live abroad for tax purposes can spend no more than 182 days a year living in Ireland.
# Coalition talks
Social Democrats rule out going into a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael
Talks have been ongoing for more than a week now but there is no sign of a government being formed.
# new government
Social Democrats accuse Fine Gael of 'game-playing' and cancel meeting
Leo Varadkar last night said his party is “preparing to go into opposition”.
# Purple Reign
'No paper candidates': How the Social Democrats' GE2020 strategy reaped electoral success
The Social Democrats jumped from two TDs to six in the general election.
# dail is fair in love and war
Couple who ran in the same constituency for different parties both get elected in dramatic final count
The two beat off competition from a Fine Gael candidate in what is traditionally a stronghold for FG.
# hour by hour
The nation has decided. Here's when we'll know the results
We’ve a very long day ahead of us until we find out how the 33rd Dáil will look.