As opposition, our job is to question govt policy. But people often ask us what we would do differently. For our education spokesperson @jencummins.bsky.social it starts with ensuring that no child is an outsider at school. And something else about homework... but we can't make promises on that.

Fewer than 5% of people who have experienced sexual assault report it to the Gardaí. It's clear that survivors don't trust the justice system – how could they when it allows for their counselling notes to be used against them in court? The Minister for Justice must act to ban this practice.

Bessborough survivors have been told over and over that the status of the site is "complicated." There's nothing complicated about human rights abuses. The process of healing must begin for survivors, both from the state acknowledging their trauma, and from govt intervening, and CPOing the site.

There’s so much we don’t know about the grounds of Bessborough. We welcome the news from the Taoiseach on Friday that Cork City Council will engage with the landowners on the site. Cork City Council must be funded to CPO the site.

With a 50% rise in the last year of children presenting with brain injuries after e-scooter accidents, it's clear we need to regulate these vehicles. But how? We've got four easy solutions that govt can take on board immediately to bring a halt to the increase in these kinds of injuries.

Ireland is one of the very few countries who's exports to Russia have increased since they invaded Ukraine. Our alumina is fuelling Putin's war machine. The Tánaiste must give a straight answer as to whether alternative markets for alumina can be found and how jobs at the plant will be protected.

A ban on the sale of disposable barbecues needs to be put in place during periods of active hot weather alerts. There is far too much at stake – our natural environment, our wildlife, and the safety of our firefighters and local communities – to rely on self-regulation.

The number of children treated for brain injuries from e-scooter accidents has increased by 50%. We need a new approach to tackle this, with measures like mandatory registration, Garda training, or an amnesty scheme. The Tánaiste says he wants to work constructively on this: let's make it happen.

Govt has continued to ignore the potential of solar power to mitigate against ever-rising energy prices, failing to roll out a plug-in solar scheme before summer recess. When it comes to climate action and reducing people’s bills, the Government is incapable of picking even the low-hanging fruit.

This summer, water conservation is important. But hosepipe bans can be frustrating, especially when there is so little governance around water usage by data centres. Yet, when it comes to data centres, the Taoiseach is just sticking his head in the sand.

The Taoiseach knows that missing women and children who lived in Bessborough may well be buried there. Yet he maintains that he can't do anything to stop the site being turned into apartments. He's the head of govt: he holds the purse strings. It's time he stopped sitting on his hands, and acted.

More and more people want to see change and look towards us in the Social Democrats. We have an excellent track record in tackling the issues that matter to people like housing, disabilities, climate, healthcare, childcare and more. We are consistently on the left of politics in Ireland.

Latest CSO figures show that house prices are now 25% above their highest level at the peak of the property boom in April 2007. Govt's failure to tackle runaway house prices is putting homeownership increasingly out of reach. @roryhearne.bsky.social

The scrambler scourge in inner city Dublin cannot end until a proper policing strategy is put in place. Resources need to be deployed to stations that need it – but we also need specialised Gardaí to police the issue of scramblers. The streets are out of control. It's time govt took action.

The 7th of July is not an appropriate time to announce changes to the portal for special education places It's a time when many parents are away or trying to navigate summer holidays and school staff are entitled to time off The Government must also ensure there is more transparency in special ed

Night after night young people are riding scramblers recklessly through Dublin's City Centre. Lack of proper policing has led Gardaí to say they do not have the resources to police these areas effectively. Grace's Law and Grace's legacy must mean safer roads.

What is going on in our judicial system at the moment is chaotic and should not be tolerated Those caught in the crossfire of this row include the victims of violent crime, rape and sexual assault, who are being denied timely access to justice We need the Taoiseach step in before this gets worse

Gov are going to make the homelessness crisis worse with recent measures Emergency accommodation providers say the lack of stability would significantly impact homeless individuals' ability to meaningfully engage with services We need to drive measures to protect the most vulnerable people

The illegal use of scrambler bikes is dangerously out of control in our communities. It needs an emergency response from Govt. To make Grace's Law work in practice, gardaí must be given the specialised training and resources they have been crying out for.

Taoiseach must intervene to prevent further escalation of dispute with solicitors over legal aid fees. Justice Minister's megaphone diplomacy has resulted in near collapse of our criminal courts. Meanwhile, victims of crime are being denied timely access to justice. @garygannontd.bsky.social

Over 1,000 adults under the age of 65 are still living in nursing homes. Why is Government denying disabled people the right to housing? Ireland ratified the UNCRPD years ago but still has not delivered. Disabled people need their fundamental rights to be delivered on now.

Some 1,600 households with someone with an identified intellectual disability are on the waiting list, which is an 18% increase since 2023. These are people Government know about, but, they have privatised social housing and not delivered social housing sufficiently in its broadest context.

Some of our Dublin City Councillors got together and discussed their plans for a better Dublin for all …

The Social Democrats support Irish unity As we work towards it, we need to have more conversations about what that looks like There is a huge gap in understanding cultural differences, the history and the challenges on both sides of the border Conversations are key to addressing that imbalance

Our motion asked for something very reasonable: a proper national strategy, real planning, real accountability and homes built around the person, not around whatever space happens to become available. Are we going to be back here in a year's time, still fighting for the same rights?

Last week, Eoin Hayes visited Stormont for an all-island meeting with the Social Protection committee. And yes, we asked – The Stormont Special is some kind of rhubarb toffee concoction.

Government had an opportunity to work together with us and set out a plan that would work for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. Instead, they worked against us. More of the same. More abject failure.

Govt must commit to a full process of transparency when it comes to historical child abuse. This must include disclosure of correspondence, letters, reports and records relating to allegations, admissions or investigations. State has a moral duty to end era of secrecy. @jencummins.bsky.social

Passing of FAI motion in favour of proceeding with Ireland’s Nations League fixtures against Israel is not reflective of public sentiment. It will only increase support for Stop the Game campaign. Sport can be a unifying force that transcends politics - but not in the case of a genocide.

The Minister says that every effort is made by the House to provide residential services for an adult with intellectual disabilities as close to family and natural supports as possible but this does not appear to be the case. The Social Democrats will continue to keep the pressure on Government.

2,314 adults with intellectual disabilities are cared for by parents over the age of 70. These and many other families have been told that they have an indefinite responsibility to provide care to their family member. This state exploitation of familial love is cruel, and it's unacceptable.

The latest EPA report only shows modest reductions in Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. We have a mountain to climb. Under this Govt, we are only taking baby steps on climate action instead of the giant strides needed to help us reach our legally binding targets by 2030.

Adults with intellectual disabilities are being left in the lurch once the family members who care for them can no longer do so. When this happens, they're often placed in settings wherever they can be found. This is unacceptable. The government need to show urgency and address this crisis.

The Dáíl debate on our motion - A Place Called Home for Adults with an Intellectual Disability - has just started. 📺You can watch it live here. tinyurl.com/mp7x7bu

Data centres now consume 23% of Ireland's electricity, with demand set to rise even further. That means higher bills, greater pressure on our energy security and growing risks to our climate targets. How many data centres are enough?

It's another week of chaos in the criminal courts, with hundreds of solicitors withdrawing their services for legal aid. And it's all of Minister O'Callaghan's own making. Does the govt seriously think that solicitors are scamming the system to make more money?

The gutted version of the Occupied Territories Bill that the Government is ramming through the Oireachtas will not effectively sanction Israel. The level of inaction by Western governments is sickening and despicable. @patriciastephenson.bsky.social

Thousands of disabled people and their families are being left in limbo. Too many adults with intellectual disabilities are living far from home, or with ageing parents terrified for their future. This crisis needs a clear plan now.

House prices are up again. The average first-time buyer is now 40, while younger generations are stuck in box rooms, paying record rents or leaving Ireland altogether. This Government has put investors ahead of people who need homes.

The latest CSO figures on electricity consumption by data centres are alarming, but not surprising. Data centres now use more electricity than all urban homes combined. Irish households are paying a very high price for the State rolling out the red carpet to Big Tech.

The entire country is justifiably proud of Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes following his return from the World Cup with Cape Verde. His brilliant achievements must prompt the Govt to properly invest in League of Ireland academies, grassroots and communities.

The social contract has been broken for those who dream of owning a home. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been put on hold as they try to navigate a broken housing market, unable to put down roots and start a family. @roryhearne.bsky.social

The Regulation of AI Bill is an incredibly important piece of legislation. But there were only eleven calendar days between its publication and its being enacted. Why the sudden rush on this Bill? And why not let legislators scrutinise it properly?

Childcare costs are crushing families. Parents were promised a €200 monthly childcare cap, but still have no clear roadmap for when it will happen. Childcare should be essential public infrastructure, not a private burden.

Getting AI regulation right matters. Instead, the Government is rushing through a complex framework with too little scrutiny. Ireland needs robust, independent enforcement that protects fundamental rights.

The cost of bills is continuing to rise, and more and more people are falling into energy poverty. It's increasingly clear – govt's short term measures aren't helping people. We need targeted measures for those who need them most, and long term solutions to ensure energy in Ireland is affordable.

The govt's unwillingness to ban the cruel practice of hare coursing is stunning. One FG TD even suggested hare coursing was comparable to a hare being caught in the wild by a predator. Birds of prey catching small mammals is nature. Animal cruelty is abhorrent and deliberate.

The plight of children living in emergency accommodation highlights the importance of incorporating the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child into Irish law. The issue of child homelessness in Dublin 1 was raised by Daniel Ennis TD at yesterday's Joint Committee on Children and Equality.

Housing should be central to Ireland's EU Presidency. At a time of record rents and record house prices, silence is not a strategy. Europe needs coordinated action to tackle the housing crisis.

In the first 18 months of this govt, there's been very little legislation passing through the Oireachtas. Yet this week, the lifting of the Dublin Airport passenger cap was rushed through the legislative process. What is the sudden urgency? And why is the govt so keen to bypass the Climate Act?