News

A new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) reveals some uncomfortable truths about the government’s prospects of meeting its climate action targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The SEAI’s 2024 Energy in Ireland report states that we have failed to break […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the government’s intention to finally move on her repeated calls to grant the Agri-Food Regulator increased powers to improve transparency in food supply chains. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s agriculture spokesperson, said: “With suspected price gouging by supermarkets continuing to squeeze household budgets, it’s more important than […]

The decision of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CRU) to greenlight electricity price rises for consumers – without doing anything to reign in gouging by energy companies – will heap further pressure on struggling families, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “In an interview on Morning Ireland this morning, a […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has described the positive cross-party response to her Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2025 as a significant step in the right direction for animal rights in Ireland. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s agriculture spokesperson, said: “My Bill, which was debated at second stage in the Dáil today, is aimed at […]

Animal welfare charities and rescue centres are being left to pick up the pieces in the absence of proper dog breeding regulations, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “Ireland holds the dubious distinction of being the puppy farm capital of Europe, with 30,000 dogs […]

The three-year extension of the nitrates derogation must be used to draw up plans for its total phase out after it expires, according to Social Democrats agriculture and environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “I am hugely concerned by the decision to extend the nitrates derogation – because, if past performance is anything to […]

The government has turned its back on vulnerable families by ignoring advice to provide targeted energy credits this winter, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Without energy credits, the average household will be hit by an extra €321 in electricity costs per year – vulnerable families will indefinitely be pushed […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for immediate government action after it emerged today that just 10 per cent of Ireland’s historic landfills have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “Waste from old landfills is buried underground in every county in Ireland, often […]

The government’s National Transport Plan is completely lacking in ambition, according to Social Democrats transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “The government’s National Transport Plan lacks all ambition and its rollout of public transport projects is unacceptably slow. “Luas Finglas, which received planning permission this month, won’t start construction until 2029. This is not […]

Uber’s plan to introduce fixed-rate fares to their service presents an existential threat to taxiing, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins and transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Cummins said: “Taxi drivers are being pushed out of their livelihoods by the greed of multinational corporations, who are allowed to act with impunity despite the implications […]