News

Irish farmers should not be forced to compete with farmers in other countries who are subject to much lower health and environmental standards The outgoing government parties are sleepwalking the country into ratification of the Mercosur deal – which would be disastrous for both agriculture and the environment, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer […]

The Agriculture Minister must act on cruelty inflicted on calves in the dairy sector, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, was commenting on an RTÉ investigation into cruelty and mistreatment inflicted on calves in the dairy sector. “This Minister has been asleep at the wheel while gross […]

We cannot – and should not – tolerate a situation in which hundreds and thousands of calves are being bred to suffer from the moment of birth The shocking maltreatment of bull calves highlighted by RTÉ Investigates tonight is a direct consequence of Government policy to encourage intensification and expansion within the dairy sector, according […]

Levels of polluting nitrogen and phosphorus in Irish rivers and lakes were found to be unacceptably high Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for an immediate Government response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s bleak assessment of the condition of Irish watercourses. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate action and biodiversity, said: […]

Government continues to prop up an industry that is in terminal decline  Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has renewed her call for State funding to the greyhound industry to be phased out after the Government received a detailed report on how revenues from the betting tax are spent. “The report, which was compiled on behalf […]

Young farmers are an endangered species – we need urgent action  The government needs to take the issues facing rural Ireland seriously and provide sufficient and sustainable funding to help farmers overcome the climate crisis, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns was commenting after meeting members of Macra na Feirme, who gathered […]

Ireland’s Forest Strategy has been undermined by partnership with UK investment firm Coillte’s controversial partnership with a UK investment firm is undermining Ireland’s new Forest Strategy before it has even begun, according to Social Democrats Agriculture spokesperson Holly Cairns. “The long-delayed Forest Strategy says all the right things and makes big commitments. But based on […]

Partnership with UK investment firm highlights serious flaws in Government’s approach to forestry policy and climate action The Government must immediately intervene to scrap the controversial deal between Coillte and a UK-based investment firm, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, said: “The partnership […]

Department of Agriculture should be supporting farms to develop forestry, not punishing them The planned partnership between Coillte and Gresham House, a UK-based investment firm, highlights fundamental flaws in the Government’s approach to forestry, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on Agriculture, said: “It has come to […]

Despite lack of public support and cruelty concerns, the Government continues to prop up the greyhound racing industry  Increased State funding for the greyhound racing industry represents a serious setback for animal welfare in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns made her comments ahead of today’s Dáil motion proposing approval of […]