News

Farmers and rural communities must not be led off a cliff by a government that refuses to plan for contingencies Government needs a ‘plan B’ for farmers if their attempts to secure an extension of the nitrates derogation fail, according to Social Democrats Agriculture spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “There has been confirmation today that it will […]

The latest consumer watchdog probe into grocery prices must have teeth, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Speaking ahead of the party’s motion on supermarket transparency this Wednesday, Deputy Whitmore said: “The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has re-opened a probe into grocery prices, but the government has failed to give it requisite powers […]

With households continuing to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, the Social Democrats will bring a motion before the Dáil next week calling for full transparency on profits being generated by supermarkets. Jennifer Whitmore TD, who will introduce the motion on Wednesday, July 9, said: “Families and individuals across the country are finding it extremely difficult […]

It is now all but inevitable that Ireland will face billions in EU fines for not meeting its legally binding emissions reduction targets by 2030, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “The latest assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must not be ignored. It […]

The government cannot continue to take a head in the sand approach to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in our rivers, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, was responding to the latest water quality monitoring report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She said: “The […]

The expansion of the ‘quieter carriage’ initiative on Iarnród Éireann services would result in a more inclusive and work-friendly travel experience for passengers, according to Social Democrats transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Quieter carriages have proved extremely popular since they were reintroduced on the Dublin to Cork service back in 2022 and there […]

The chief executives of Ireland’s local authorities must be hauled into a meeting by the Minister for the Environment and read the riot act for failing to clamp down on illegal commercial peat extractors, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and environment, said: “A report […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has criticised the Department of Agriculture for ongoing delays to ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) payments for 2024. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “Nationally, there are 2,961 farmers waiting for their 2024 advance, with 8,315 waiting for any payment at all. “In my own Wicklow […]

Dublin City Council’s failure to ensure adequate living conditions in social housing is a detriment to the health of its residents, according to Social Democrats TDs Jen Cummins and Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Cummins, who represents Dublin South-Central, said: “Emmet Buildings is just one of dozens of examples in my constituency where the quality of social […]

The Taoiseach cannot continue to talk out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to protecting Ireland’s marine environment, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on the marine, said: “Speaking in France this week at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Taoiseach said he […]