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Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, says she is optimistic that extended Parent’s Leave will be introduced earlier than anticipated in the new year after she raised the issue with the Minister for Children this week. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “At a meeting of the Children’s Committee, I […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has warned that a hard Brexit could potentially impact on the rights of children to access healthcare, housing and education on both sides of the border. Speaking in the Dáil today on the Brexit Omnibus Bill, Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “A lot […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has called for an immediate ban on mink farming in Ireland following the emergence of a new strain of Covid-19 relating to the industry in Europe and the US. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “There have always been ethical and […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has called on the Government to legislate for a ban on imported fracked gas following today’s High Court decision to quash all permissions for Shannon LNG. Deputy Whitmore said: “After a 13-year battle, Shannon LNG has lost all permissions to build its fracked gas […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has called for the re-establishment of the Collaborative Forum for Survivors of Mother and Baby and Bethany Homes, which has not met since December 2019. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dáil today. She said: “The Collaborative […]

Responding to the reports in the Irish Examiner that the government did not follow the Data Protection Commissioner’s (DPC) advice on the Mother and Baby Homes Bill, the Social Democrats spokesperson for children, Jennifer Whitmore TD called on the Minister for Children to immediately publish the advice given to the Department by the DPC. Deputy […]

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, has called on the Government parties to allow a vote of conscience on controversial legislation that would seal the records of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby homes for 30 years. Deputy Whitmore said: “This is a very emotive and sensitive issue. I have spoken […]

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Climate Action, said that a report detailing the deliberate killing of hundreds of birds of prey highlights the urgency for the establishment of a Wildlife Crime Unit. Deputy Whitmore said: “The report revealed that the vast majority of Ireland’s birds of prey killed by human attacks or other […]

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, has welcomed the publication of an expert advisory group’s report on reforming Ireland’s direct provision system. Deputy Whitmore said: “The advisory group, which is led by former Secretary General of the European Commission, Dr Catherine Day, has sent a list of recommendations to the Minister for Justice Helen […]

The Social Democrats believe it is imperative that proposed legislation to seal the records of the archives of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes for 30 years is not passed into law when it comes before the Dáil this evening. A number of amendments to the Bill have been put forward by […]