Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026It’s estimated that almost 50% of families eligible for the Working Family Payment are not availing of it. This is one of the most important targeted payments in Social Protection, for people who are already working and still falling short of what they need to get by. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026There’s a lot of talk of indexing the income tax bands in the budget next week. But what never gets talked about is the indexation of social welfare payments and protecting the incomes of the most vulnerable people in our society. 👇 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Last time it was this high was the Global Financial Crisis… 000
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Assaults on the Gardaí must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and I’m shocked and appalled this happened in my constituency. My thoughts are with the injured Garda. I wish her a speedy recovery and hope the perpetrator is brought to swift justice. 010
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026It’s important that the privacy and data governance concerns around the Public Sevices card are taken seriously as the bill which makes changes to how the card can be used is making its way through the Oireachtas. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 18/09/2026The explosion in the number of data centres and the amount of our energy share they are taking not only impedes our climate goals, and screws ordinary people who pay higher electricity rates, but the so-called economic benefits are masking what is actually a huge economic risk. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 17/09/2026There is a a lot of room for improvement when it comes to the coordination between various state bodies, particularly those who operate or interact with the Social Protection system. This can be difficult given the dispersed nature of supports which many of our most vulnerable populations rely on. 110
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I was a kid living in America on September 11th 2001, and remember the day vividly. In shock, we watched the events unfold on television in our 8th grade classroom. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but the world changed that day. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 10/09/2026As we approach the Budget, I am continuing to call on the government to put in place the supports disabled people have been campaigning for over many years, and particularly to make up the cuts they made to disabled people’s incomes in last year’s budget. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 04/09/2026The restructuring of the Wage Subsidy Scheme last year has caused issues for some employers, and the new bands effectively penalise rather than reward organisations who employ higher numbers of people with disabilities. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 02/09/2026In my blog last week, I introduced the idea of four major threats to the Irish economy, and looked at the risks posed by multinational layoffs and global trade disruption. This week, I’m looking at the other two horsemen; inflation & stagnation, and a choked indigenous sector. 👇 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Investment in the sciences is crucial, not just for our economy, but for our ecology, and for our planet. Scientific and technological solutions will be key in how we address and manage the climate crisis and protect our environment. 110
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Two weeks ago, the Irish Times published a piece of mine talking about layoffs in the multinational tech-sector. As I said in that piece, the layoffs this year have been deeply worrying, not only for those affected, but because they also signify major risks at play in the Irish economic model. 👇 130
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 26/08/2026The intersection of care work and poverty needs to end. Clare Daly spoke to us in the Social Protection committee recently, representing the European Anti-Poverty Network, about the idea of a Universal Care Income pilot scheme. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Devastated to hear of the passing of Dolly Parton. A titan of music and goodness in the world, and a great reminder of the best people America has produced when we too often see the opposite. May that beautiful spirit live on. 010
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Dementia is a devastating disease which affects not just the person with the disease, but all of their loved ones too. And as our population ages, more and more of us will be exposed to the difficult task of managing the impacts of dementia. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 21/08/2026The government’s Wellbeing Framework is supposed to guide some of the decisions made for Budget 2027, but it does not sufficiently connect the varying intersecting policy areas which have a direct impact on the wellbeing of citizens, like climate action, economic inequality, housing, and job qualit 121
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 21/08/2026There remain legacy issues in the Social Protection system which mean that in certain circumstances people are treated as part of family units for the sake of means testing and eligibility thresholds, when that doesn’t reflect the reality of their situation. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Op-Ed in the Irish Times today - we need to build an economic model that protects people, and creates a shared prosperity for the many rather than subject to the whims of foreign capital. 021
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 10/08/2026As the Dáil is in recess I’ve had a bit of time to think about my job and how I’m using my time - the truth is there’s a million different ways to approach the job of being a TD, so taking the time to consider how to do it effectively is important. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 07/08/2026At 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. 100
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Human dignity should be at the core of our social protection system. But the current system is designed not to support people in vulnerable situations, but to hold back money. It's adversarial and it's complicated - but in our modern republic, it shouldn't be, says @eoinhayestd.bsky.social 583
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 04/08/2026During 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. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 31/07/2026There 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. 020
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 29/07/2026So 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. 110
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 28/07/2026The Taoiseach thinks it was petty to raise this in the Dáil. But the fact of the matter is Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez has shown what it means to have a fearless leader at the helm. The Irish people deserve better from their political leaders and Spain has shown the world it’s possible. 4167
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 22/07/2026The 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. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 19/07/2026🇪🇸 🇮🇪 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. 👇 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Time for the ‘pro-enterprise government’ to step up. 122
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 15/07/2026False 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. 110
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 14/07/2026It’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. 100
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 10/07/2026Last 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. 052
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 08/07/20262,314 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. 193
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 07/07/2026In 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. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 03/07/2026Every parent of an adult with an intellectual disability asks the same question - who will look after my child when I’m no longer here? 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 01/07/2026As 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. 130
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 30/06/2026The 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. 110
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 26/06/2026It 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. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Older 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. 100
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 23/06/2026It’s hard to understand how Dublin City Council can have no funds remaining for roads resurfacing in 2026 in parts of our city 🧵 110
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 19/06/2026It 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. 100
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 19/06/20261 in 10 older people now live in consistent poverty. Many older people living alone are struggling with heating and energy bills. We need targeted supports that reach those who need them most. 051
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Digital And Techworker Alliance (DATA) @data-cwu.bsky.social · 18/06/2026🚨 The Taoiseach has publicly called on Covalen to meet with the union. On 16th June, TD Eoin Hayes raised the issue of the 720 redundancies announced by Covalen directly with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil. 122
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍The Journal @thejournal.ie · 16/06/2026The Silk Road Café in the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle is allowed to reopen tomorrow after it secured an injunction preventing its closure before the end of its license agreement jrnl.ie/7072536jrnl.ieSilk Road Café allowed to reopen tomorrow after securing injunction preventing closureThe owner of the café, Abraham Phelan, has taken legal action against the business’s landlord the Chester Beatty. 1175
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 17/06/2026The 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. 100
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 16/06/2026We’re looking for a Policy Officer who will help shape the party’s platform. If you love the sound of researching legislative changes and collaborating with members to create fairer policies for Ireland - we want to hear from you. www.socialdemocrats.ie/jobs/policy-... 062
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 10/06/2026The 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. 110
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 09/06/2026The 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. 100
Reposted by Eoin Hayes TD 🌍Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 09/06/2026An extensive suite of measures is needed to address the financial precarity of caring. Thousands of carers have been forced to cut back on heating and eating in order to provide for some of our most vulnerable people. The cost of care has become unmanageable. @eoinhayestd.bsky.socialsocialdemocrats.ieCarers have been abandoned by the State as thousands go without - Social DemocratsAn extensive suite of measures is needed to address the financial precarity of caring, according to Social Democrats social protection spokesperson Eoin Hayes. Deputy Hayes said: “Thousands of carers ... 0158
Eoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 05/06/2026The 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. 111