Politics

‘We don’t want to go into government for the sake of it’ – Holly Cairns takes over as leader of the Social Democrats

Her speech focused on the issues of housing, poverty, climate and healthcare, while Cairns took aim at the government parties of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil

Holly Cairns: “We really want to govern and we want to implement the policies that we speak in the Dáil about.” Picture: RollingNews.ie

The Social Democrats will not rule out going into coalition with any other party, but it won’t go into government for the sake of it, Holly Cairns has said in her maiden speech as new leader of the party.

Cairns was speaking at the Tara building in Dublin after she was appointed leader of the Social Democrats with no other contender putting their name forward. Now the youngest party leader in the Dáil at 33, ...