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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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 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.

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?

1 in 7 households are in energy arrears, and prices are going up again. Meanwhile, huge amounts of renewable energy are being wasted. That's where the Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill comes in, by providing this surplus energy at low cost to cut bills. It's time to act to reduce costs.

At least 17 people were killed and more than 50 injured this week in yet another Russian attack on Kyiv. Meanwhile, Aughinish Alumina's exports to Russia have at least doubled since 2022. It's time the govt took their heads out of the sand. We need to ban the export of alumina to Russia.