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Government must take opportunity to eliminate consistent child poverty

The Social Democrats will bring a Private Members’ Motion before the Dáil tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30, calling on the Government to set an ambitious target for the elimination of consistent child poverty in Ireland by 2025. Jennifer Whitmore TD, the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “Our motion calls on the Government to firmly state that […]

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SocDems call for Government action on four-day working week

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Children, has backed calls for the Government to commission an expert report to examine the feasibility of a four-day working week. Deputy Whitmore made her comments after attending a public briefing event by the Four Day Week Ireland campaign this morning. She said: “The Social Democrats fully support […]

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Report reveals alarming rate of educational disadvantage for children due to lockdown

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, says the recent Ombudsman for Children report reinforces concerns over the negative impact that Covid-19 is having on children, particularly as they reintegrate into the school environment. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Children, said: “The Ombudsman for Children in Ireland published its annual report which […]

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Government response to humanitarian crisis in Greece is wholly inadequate

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow and spokesperson on Children, Equality and Integration, Jennifer Whitmore, has described Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Greece as “wholly inadequate”. Deputy Whitmore said: “Greece is seeking emergency humanitarian intervention from EU countries after a fire in the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesvos […]

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Whitmore renews her call for Online Safety Commissioner

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has renewed her call for the appointment of an Online Safety Commissioner following the stark findings of new report from Cyber Safety Ireland. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Children, said: “The report revealed that more than 90 percent of children aged between eight and 12 […]

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Climate action policies must be poverty and disability-proofed

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has called for proper consultation with groups representing people living in poverty and disability organisations when climate action policies are being developed. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate, made her comments following the recent publication of the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy by […]

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Government must act on findings of UNICEF survey

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said today that the findings of a UNICEF survey on the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents highlight the need for the Government to invest in further supports for young people as our schools reopen. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Children, said: “The findings of the UNICEF […]

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Second phase of new parental leave law comes into effect

The second phase of unpaid parental leave brought in by the Social Democrats Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 comes into effect next Tuesday, 1st September 2020. Four additional weeks of unpaid leave is available to parents, following on from the four weeks that became available last September, bringing the amount of unpaid parental leave available to […]

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Social Democrats TDs believe Forestry Bill is significantly flawed

Social Democrats spokesperson for Agriculture, Holly Cairns TD, and the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Environment, Jennifer Whitmore TD, believe that the Government’s new Forestry Bill is significantly flawed and in direct contravention of EU Directives and the Aarhus Convention which protect people’s rights to appeal decisions in environmental planning. Deputy Whitmore and Deputy […]

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