Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns announces that she is pregnant with her second child. RTE reports that her due date is October. Belfast Telegraph and BreakingNews.ie also state that the announcement is made by Cairns as the party’s leader. BreakingNews.ie adds that the party plans for leadership cover during her pregnancy, saying deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan would take on the role of acting leader from October. The reports do not describe additional details about the pregnancy, but they consistently link the announcement to a planned transition in party leadership later in the year. Overall, the sources agree that Cairns publicly confirms she is expecting again and that her deputy is set to act as leader starting in October, reflecting arrangements for her absence.