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Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed a proposed nationwide ban on smoky coal and restrictions on the sale of turf and unseasoned wood but says that any new regulations must be poverty-proofed. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Along with emissions from transport, solid fuel is one […]

The Social Democrats have written to the Office of the Data Protection Commission requesting that they examine the destruction of survivors’ recorded testimonies by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. Jennifer Whitmore TD, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The simple fact is that 550 testimonies have been destroyed. While […]

The Social Democrats have this week submitted a Dáil motion calling for CETA and the Investor Court System to be scrutinised by all relevant Oireachtas committees, not just one. The motion states that given the breadth and scope of CETA, there are potential implications for various issues, including workers’ rights, labour standards, food safety, agriculture […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore says it is baffling that the Minister for Children has refused to extend the term of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to allow for a full investigation into the deletion of survivors’ recorded testimonies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, had proposed a […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has called on the HSE to engage with child experts to put in place a child-centred Assessment of Needs process. Deputy Whitmore was commenting on the findings of a survey carried out by the Psychological Society of Ireland of its members on the Assessment of Needs (AON) […]

The Social Democrats have submitted a Bill to extend the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes by another year. Jennifer Whitmore TD, the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “We are hoping to publish this Bill in response to discovering that audio recordings of all 550 witnesses interviewed as part of the Commission of […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the Climate Action Bill to be introduced in the Dáil without delay. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “It is now four and a half months since the Bill was first published and it still has not been introduced in […]

– EU Affairs Committee alone will not guarantee the ‘vigorous scrutiny’ required Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has said that the Dáil must ensure proper scrutiny of the Investor Court System elements of CETA before any vote or final decision is taken. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “The full […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has expressed concern at the steady rise in the number of childcare workers migrating to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. In a reply to a parliamentary question from Deputy Whitmore, the Minister for Social Protection revealed that the number of childcare workers availing of PUP has risen from […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government not to dissolve the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to allow for a full investigation into the deletion of recordings of survivors’ testimonies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The commission is due to be dissolved on February […]