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Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore believes that Ireland should follow New Zealand’s example by providing paid leave for women who suffer miscarriages. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, was speaking during the Family Leave Bill in the Dáil today where she acknowledged New Zealand’s introduction of a bereavement payment to women who […]

– Government needs to ramp up investment for paid parental leave and streamline legislation to make it family-friendly, says Jennifer Whitmore TD Speaking on the Family Leave Bill in the Dáil today, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore, said: “While I welcome the extension of paid parental leave to five weeks, the Government needs […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the publication of the revised Climate Action Bill but says further safeguards are required in the legislation to ensure the 51% carbon emissions reduction target cannot be watered down. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “While I welcome the inclusion of […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the potential establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) sector. The recommendation follows an eight-week pre-JLC consultation process initiated by the Minister for Children in partnership with SIPTU and CSI/Ibec, which was independently chaired by Dr Kevin […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government to draw up an urgent plan to tackle the problem of illegal gorse fires around the country. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, outlined the destructive impact that these fires have on the environment and […]

Significant State investment in childcare and early education will be required to prevent a post-Covid crisis in the sector, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, was responding to concerns that childcare providers will face new challenges when restrictions are relaxed and the economy opens up […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has accused the Minister for the Environment of an abdication of his responsibilities after he refused to take a Dáil question from her on the implications of CETA on environmental legislation. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, had submitted a priority question to Minister […]

Calling on the Minister for Health to implement the Breastfeeding Action Plan, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said: “As my party’s spokesperson for Children, getting the necessary breastfeeding supports for women in this country is a key priority of mine. To achieve this, we need to see the full implementation of the National Maternity Strategy […]

Speaking today at the Social Democrats’ online National Conference, Jennifer Whitmore, the party’s spokesperson on Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Climate change is the biggest societal challenge we face. It will impact on every aspect of our lives – in fact, it already has. “To date, we’ve seen climate change primarily as an environmental issue […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore says the Government needs to urgently respond to concerns raised by the Data Protection Commissioner today in relation to the imminent transfer of archives from the Mother and Baby Homes Commission to the Minister for Children. In a radio interview this morning, Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon said she had […]