News

The outgoing government has serious questions to answer following the resignation of the interim chief executive of CHI, which could result in further delays to the opening of the National Children’s Hospital, according to Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats. Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “I am deeply concerned at reports […]

The Social Democrats today published a range of proposals to support families, including improved paid leave arrangements for parents; a right to flexible work options; and building a public model of early childhood care and education. The policy will be launched by children’s spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore and Cllr Jen Cummins, the party’s general election candidate […]

The latest report from the Child Law Project paints a disturbing picture of how children in the care system are being failed by the State, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “The project’s latest analysis of child care proceedings makes for grim reading. It […]

The Social Democrats have outlined how, in government, they would begin the process of building a public model of early childhood education and care. The party’s Early Years Care and Education policy was launched today by Jennifer Whitmore TD, spokesperson on children, and Cllr Jen Cummins, the Social Democrats’ Dublin South-Central general election candidate. Deputy […]

Welcoming An Bord Pleanála’s decision to refuse planning permission for an apartment scheme at the former Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has repeated her call for a sensitive excavation of the grounds of the estate, which is widely believed to be a children’s burial ground. “The latest refusal […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has urged the Government to include the regulation of nicotine pouches in proposed legislation to ban disposable vapes. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “Under proposals being brought to Cabinet today, the sale of disposable vapes will be banned, with further measures planned to restrict flavours […]

Religious orders must be compelled to account for the litany of horrific sexual abuse carried out for decades in church-run schools, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “The scale of the abuse outlined in senior counsel Mary O’Toole’s scoping inquiry report is staggering. It is another stark reminder of the devastating consequences of the […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the urgent regulation of nicotine pouches and for an analysis of the extent of their use by those under the under the age of 18. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “These pouches come in the form of small bags and contain highly […]