At the Social Protection Committee, we’ve had a number of engagements on the issue of child poverty, and one thing that keeps coming up is how the ways in which we view poverty from a policy perspective don’t always fully capture the nuances of the problem.

During Ireland’s EU Presidency, the focus on competitiveness and the Common Agricultural Policy as core concerns for negotiations on the EU Budget (aka the Multiyear Financial Framework) cannot distract from important considerations about public financing of research and industrial development.

There is a long way to go to achieve the end of partition and a United Ireland, but there remains great opportunities if we set out on the path with a positive vision of shared prosperity for those in both the 6 counties of the North and the 26 in the South.

So much is asked of parents and family members of adults with intellectual disabilities. Their love for their children and relatives means they give everything to ensure life is lived with dignity.

The changes to the fee structure for Criminal Legal Aid is depriving people, including many from very vulnerable groups in our society, from access to justice.

🇪🇸 🇮🇪 As Spain take on Argentina in the World Cup Final, it’s worth reflecting on what the Irish government might learn from Spain’s left-wing policies - Spain is now much less reliant on gas then it was even just in 2022, during the last energy crisis. 👇

Time for the ‘pro-enterprise government’ to step up.

False claims about energy security is no excuse to not invest in renewables, and certainly not an excuse to continue our reliance on fossil fuels over our domestic sources of energy, particularly in wind.

It’s incredibly disappointing to see so many businesses are now being affected by the ongoing failure of government Ministers to address the disruptions to businesses as a result of the EU Presidency arrangements at Dublin Castle.

In the Social Democrats we’ve been consistent over many years in calling for reform of the Child Benefit scheme and of the support offered by the Social Protection system to children at risk of poverty.

Every parent of an adult with an intellectual disability asks the same question - who will look after my child when I’m no longer here?

As Ireland takes on the EU Presidency, it’s important that Ireland uses the opportunity to give voice to the best values of the European Union and a core vision of global cooperation.

The job losses at Meta and their contractors are deeply troubling, and are also a sign of things to come, as the government has failed to put any plans in place to protect jobs and livelihoods from the growth of AI.

It is unacceptable that some of the most vulnerable people in our society cannot access the Additional Needs Payment to help them with rising costs which they cannot meet out of their regular income.

Older people have so much to contribute to our society and to our workplaces. Much of the discussion about retirement ages centres on the pension entitlements, which of course are hugely important.

It’s hard to understand how Dublin City Council can have no funds remaining for roads resurfacing in 2026 in parts of our city 🧵

It is deeply regrettable that the government has refused to engage on the issue of the forced closure of the Silk Road Cafe in the Chester Beatty Library. Small businesses should not need to go to the courts as a result of government policies.

The development in Poolbeg will be transformative, delivering thousands of badly needed homes while creating a vibrant new community in our city. But the levels of infrastructure in place need to be developed concurrently to handle the increasing population.

The UEFA Nations League game between Ireland and Israel should not go ahead. The immense power that sport has for good should not be hijacked by brutal regimes who want to pretend that they are operating within international norms.

The Social Protection system should be there to protect people, to ensure that no one falls below a certain level of means, particularly during difficult life transitions and with particular care for vulnerable groups.  But disabled people are not being supported sufficiently.

The conditions in Pearse House, Markievicz House, and other flats complexes in Dublin are unacceptable. Alternative financing proposals must be considered, such as making debt facilities available to Dublin City Council, so that as capacity improves, the funding is in place automatically.

I’ve written to Minister Patrick O’Donovan to engage with the Silk Road Café and all relevant stakeholders to find a solution to support this thriving independent business and its staff.

I’ve spoken about the flows of Dark Money through Ireland’s financial system in terms of risks to our reputation as not facilitating corruption in other jurisdictions, but Dark Money also represents a significant threat to our democratic processes, creating major exposure to foreign interference.

Recent lay-offs have rightly caused great concern among not only tech workers, but anyone concerned with the model of economic growth we are pursuing in this country.

The recent Job losses at Meta and their contractor Covalen are deeply troubling, and are a sign of things to come as the government has failed to put the planning in place that can protect jobs and livelihoods from the growth of AI.

The cost of living is rising for everyone, and it is particularly challenging for vulnerable groups such as disabled people. The bottom 20% of households by income are facing cost inflation pressures of about 5%, nearly twice the rate of annual inflation.

We’ve been consistent in calling for reform of the Child Benefit scheme - including outlining in our last alternative budget how a reworking of the Working Family Payment could be used to create a second tier of child benefit.

Last week as I attended the 1916 Commemoration in Arbour Hill. It was a lovely morning, as well as a somber occasion, as President Connolly laid a wreath at the resting place of the 7 signatories of the Proclamation of the Republic.

The conditions in many of the social housing flats developments in Dublin is an outrage and a disgrace. Pearse House has only just been approved for a limited retrofit after the more comprehensive regeneration proposal was pulled last year.

The rate of consistent poverty for those aged 65 and older increased by 70% last year. Among older people living alone, the rate of consistent poverty has doubled to nearly 9.6% - that’s nearly one in ten living in poverty and deprivation.