This Bill would require the Minister for Health to introduce regulations covering issues such as age-appropriate portion sizes, the quality and balance of meals, methods of preparation, the food groups that should be provided, vegetarian options, healthy drinks and other dietary requirements.

Recognising non-binary people on official documents would cost the state nothing. Yet over the last decade we've seen this reform put on the long finger by Minister after Minister. Why does it take so long for govt action on such a simple change?

It's estimated that 1 in every 7 women in Ireland has endometriosis. That's 300,000 women who have to wait an average of 14 years for a diagnosis. Meanwhile, some women need to travel abroad for life saving treatment. We desperately need to rethink how our health service treats women.

In the first half of 2026, 70,000 people left A&E depts around the country before being seen. It's a symptom of a wider problem in our health services, where care is concentrated in the most acute settings. We need to invest in capacity, staffing and primary care. We need to roll out Sláintecare.

If Ireland did not have the Triple Lock, nothing would have stopped us from joining the US and UK in Iraq if govt had wished to. FF/FG will tell us that it's more nuanced, but it is that simple. They are taking the guardrails off Irish neutrality, with no public mandate to do so. Shame on them.

Healthcare workers risked their lives to go to work during COVID. And now, when they are dealing with the life-limiting symptoms of long-COVID, this Government abandons them completely. We need to ensure people like Rose receive the support and appreciation they deserve. @padraigrice.bsky.social

Toothless regulation of paramedics in Ireland is putting the public at risk. Successive ministers have been warned about the need for reform for years - but have ignored repeated calls. Serious gaps mean that even those with criminal convictions could be driving ambulances.

Toothless regulation of paramedics putting public at risk - Social Democrats

The toothless regulation of paramedics in Ireland is putting the public at unacceptable risk, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson and cha...

socialdemocrats.ie

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been forced into a screeching u-turn on its harebrained plan to install breathalyser terminals in pubs and hotels. They should now appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to explain the warped logic behind their proposal.

RSA must provide answers to PAC as disgraceful breathalyser plan dropped - Social Democrats

Now that the RSA’s plan to introduce breathalysers in pubs and hotels has been dropped, those involved in its inception must come forward to the Public Accounts Committee and answer crucial questions ...

socialdemocrats.ie

Guillotining today’s debate on the triple lock is highly disrespectful of public sentiment and our proud record of neutrality. It will allow the Govt to continue to misrepresent what’s proposed in this legislation without proper input from the Opposition. @sineadgibney.bsky.social

Removal of triple lock an existential threat to Irish neutrality - Social Democrats

The removal of the triple lock poses an existential threat to Irish neutrality and will be met with widespread public anger, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the p...

socialdemocrats.ie

The treatment of vulnerable children in the care of the state is an ongoing horror. There has never been a case where all 26 of Tusla's special care beds are open. Children are being failed. Govt's approach isn't working, and hasn't worked for eight years. We need sufficient staffing now.

The government's haphazard approach to granting visas for Gazan students needs to end. It's cruel, it's callous, and it's unnecessary. Evacuation flights are leaving Gaza – we need to see these students on them.

Legislation to dismantle the Triple Lock is being debated in the Dáil this week, but the debate is being guillotined so it can be rushed through. It's just not good enough. If govt are so certain that dismantling our neutrality is the right thing to do, they should put it to the people.

Reports of children in exploitative situations being unable to access special care due to understaffing are appalling. Of the 26 beds across the country, only 15 are open. These are vulnerable young people – govt needs to move heaven and earth to ensure that they are placed in a safe environment.

The RSA's proposal to install breathalysers in licensed premises around the country (to the tune of €1.5m) is farcical. Not only is it ridiculous to make a game out of the legal limit, it muddies the water around drink driving. Never ever drink and drive is a clear message. The RSA must see sense

Minister O'Callaghan's approach to the legal aid dispute – a dispute of his own making – has been arrogant and dismissive. If he wants this to end, it's in his hands. He needs to get down to negotiations with solicitors, and not spend his time briefing the media against them.

The criminal legal aid dispute escalated further today. This has caused chaos in our courts system. The Minister for Justice has been an impediment to progress. He must be sidelined by the Taoiseach to allow for meaningful engagement between the Govt and solicitors. @garygannontd.bsky.social

Taoiseach must intervene in legal aid dispute to clear up the mess created by Justice Minister - Social Democrats

The Taoiseach must urgently intervene in the escalating criminal legal aid dispute with solicitors and clear up the mess created by his Minister for Justice, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gann...

socialdemocrats.ie

New research published today is another reminder of the negative consequences for future generations if the Govt doesn’t start to take child poverty seriously. @eoinhayestd.bsky.social

Government inaction on child poverty is jeopardising our young people’s futures - Social Democrats

The Government’s failure to address child poverty in Budget 2027 will have serious ramifications for young people’s future educational and employment prospects, according to Social Democrats TD Eoin H...

socialdemocrats.ie

The DOMINO scheme, which provides continuity of care for expecting and new mothers in Cork, is a good news story for women's healthcare. So why is it being so callously gutted due to "staffing shortages" – especially when newly trained midwives are crying out for posts in our health services?

2,671 local authority homes were retrofitted in 2025 – only 37 more than the previous year. Unsurprisingly, govt's target of 36,500 retrofits by 2030 is highly unlikely to be met at this stage. People all over the country are living in cold and damp conditions. Why are FF and FG okay with that?

In a world where "might is right" is becoming increasingly true (and threatening) this government is chipping away at Ireland's neutrality. We should be leaning into multilateralism and international law at a time like this. Not ripping up our long-standing reputation as a stable, neutral state.

We can't claim our work around mother and baby homes is done until justice is served for all. How can that be when over 800 children are buried at Bessborough, or when we know that at least 1,000 died at Sean Ross Abbey? The State has an obligation to these children. It can't fail them again.

Statement from deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan TD on the party’s endorsement of Dr Maeve O’Rourke for the Seanad by-election.

Statement from Cian O’Callaghan TD on the party’s endorsement of Dr Maeve O’Rourke for the Seanad by-election - Social Democrats

“The Social Democrats are delighted to endorse Dr O’Rourke in the upcoming Seanad by-election. “Throughout her career as an academic, barrister and advocate, Dr O’Rourke has been a strong champion for...

socialdemocrats.ie

From Monday, our courts will face even more disruption as the dispute over changes to the legal aid scheme escalates. Justice Minister's attempt to look tough on solicitors has spectacularly backfired. He has nobody but himself to blame for this mess. @garygannontd.bsky.social

Minister has nobody but himself to blame as legal aid dispute looks set to escalate - Social Democrats

The Minister for Justice will have to answer for even more chaos in our courts next week with his dispute with criminal defence solicitors set to further escalate, according to Social Democrats TD Gar...

socialdemocrats.ie

A HSE audit found that overdue Assessments of Need have risen from 7,608 in 2023 to more than 23,000 this year. Govt's failure to adequately staff primary care services is driving families towards statutory AONs while leaving children without timely therapy. @liamquaidetd.bsky.social

Government must rebuild primary care to address Assessment of Need crisis - Social Democrats

The Government’s failure to adequately staff primary care services is driving families towards statutory Assessments of Need (AON) while leaving children without timely therapy, according to Social De...

socialdemocrats.ie

Over the years, implementation of Sláintecare has followed a stop-start trajectory. But it now feels as though it has come close to a standstill. Minister must reaffirm her commitment to universal healthcare. @padraigrice.bsky.social

Health Minister needs to reaffirm her commitment to Sláintecare - Social Democrats

Concerns raised at today’s Health Committee meeting on universal healthcare should act as a wake-up call for the Government, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the part...

socialdemocrats.ie

Minister for Foreign Affairs is to raise the case of author Sally Rooney with her UK counterpart, Ed Miliband. This must happen without delay. Govt must also outline Ireland's objection to the categorisation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. @sineadgibney.bsky.social

Ireland’s objection to censorship of Sally Rooney must be conveyed immediately to UK Government - Social Democrats

The Minister for Foreign Affairs must urgently make good on her commitment to raise the outrageous censorship of author Sally Rooney with the UK Government, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gib...

socialdemocrats.ie

The Government must publish a credible and funded multi-annual plan to address the extensive failings exposed by the National Disability Services Needs Analysis. @liamquaidetd.bsky.social

HSE needs analysis exposes extraordinary scale of neglect across disability services - Social Democrats

The HSE and Government must publish a credible and funded multi-annual plan to address the extensive failings exposed by the National Disability Services Needs Analysis, according to Social Democrats ...

socialdemocrats.ie

Yesterday marked the biggest public sector strike since 2009. Our representatives were on the ground all over the country, visiting pickets and speaking to as many striking workers as possible. Here's what some of them had to say about why they're striking, and what they want from negotiations.

What an incredible atmosphere yesterday at pickets across the country. The people are 100% behind the workers. It’s time for the Government to hear them.

The Taoiseach's arrogance towards public sector workers has been astonishing. Instead of taking responsibility for the lack of engagement with unions, he has just dismissed their frustration offhand. Unions have no choice but to strike. But govt can choose to put a credible pay deal on the table.