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Figures released today by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) further highlight the government’s failure to get to grips with the cost-of-living crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Households around the country continue to struggle under the weight of soaring energy bills […]

Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore will today introduce the Agri-Food Regulator (Amendment) Bill 2026, which would grant the AgriFood regulator greater powers to investigate price gouging. Speaking ahead of its introduction, Deputy Whitmore said: “Families around the country are enduring an immense struggle just to put food on the table, with prices for staples […]

Delays to the latest Climate Action Plan show that the government is continuing to backslide on Ireland’s commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions by 51 per cent by 2030, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “Just one week after Minister Darragh O’Brien admitted the State would […]

More and more families are being priced out of essential goods as grocery costs continue to rise, according to Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Everyday items continue to rise in price in supermarkets – the Consumer Price Index for December 2025 shows that butter, milk and bread, among other essentials, cost […]

We cannot afford to place greater strain on the national energy grid by removing the ban on data centre development in Dublin, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “I have major concerns with plans which went to cabinet this morning which seek to lift the ban on the development of […]

The government decision to vote against the Mercosur trade deal is too little too late, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “The government spent the entire year failing to build alliances with like‑minded EU countries in opposition to Mercour, which it explicitly committed to in the Programme for Government. “The […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has accused the government of throwing in the towel on climate action after Minister Darragh O’Brien admitted that the State would only reduce greenhouse emissions by half of its 51 per cent target by 2030. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “It is incredibly disheartening, but […]

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 […]