News

The eleventh-hour discovery of backup recordings of survivors’ testimonies should not deter the Dáil from seeking a one-year extension to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, Jennifer Whitmore TD said today. Speaking following the Dáil debate on the Social Democrats’ Private Members’ Motion calling for an extension, Deputy Whitmore said: “The Government […]

Reacting to the news that mother and baby home survivors’ audio recordings have been found, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said: “It’s welcome that audio has been recovered, but this by no means negates the case for extending the term of the Commission. “Many unanswered questions remain tonight. We feel survivors will need further guarantees […]

Following the Taoiseach’s announcement of the Government’s revised Living with Covid plan, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has asked for the Government to clarify the exact steps it will take between now and April 5th to bring down case numbers and the targets that it is working towards. Deputy Shortall commented: “This latest plan takes […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed today’s publication of the Children’s Rights Alliance ‘Report Card 2021’. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The annual report card by the Children’s Rights Alliance is an invaluable tool in monitoring Government progress in key areas affecting childhood in Ireland. This was the first […]

Speaking ahead of the Government announcement tomorrow of the latest version of Living with Covid, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Taoiseach to take a new approach with a new strategy. Deputy Shortall commented: “People need to be given hope – there needs to be light at the end of […]

Jennifer Whitmore TD has called for all-party support in advance of the Social Democrats’ Private Members’ Motion on Wednesday, which seeks an extension of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, commented: “This is an issue that goes beyond party politics. The term of […]

The Minister for Children’s comments today that it may be possible to retrieve recordings of survivors’ testimonies highlights the importance of the Social Democrats’ Dáil motion calling for the extension of the Commission of Investigation, according to Jennifer Whitmore TD. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “It is bizarre that, nine […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore will next week introduce the Social Democrats’ Dáil motion which seeks to extend the timeframe of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission by one year. The Dáil motion was submitted in response to the revelation that 550 recorded testimonies of mother and baby homes’ survivors were destroyed by the Commission. […]

Commenting on Government proposals for an equity loans scheme, Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD said: “The Minister for Housing is burying his head in the sand and ignoring numerous warnings that his proposed equity loans scheme will push up house prices. “Serious warnings and reservations about the Minister’s proposed equity loan scheme have […]

Social Democrats TDs Jennifer Whitmore and Holly Cairns have called for clarity on a recent advertisement by Coillte looking to buy bare land and land with immature forestry. The advert, which has been circulating on social media platforms, also says the semi-state company’s position is to sell land that is no longer suitable for its […]

Commenting on the decision by Natwest to withdraw Ulster Bank from Ireland, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The outcome will have grave and serious implications and it represents very bad news for customers, staff and banking in Ireland. The news will be of huge concern to the bank’s one million customers, causing uncertainty about their banking needs. […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed a proposed nationwide ban on smoky coal and restrictions on the sale of turf and unseasoned wood but says that any new regulations must be poverty-proofed. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Along with emissions from transport, solid fuel is one […]

Commenting on the Government’s confirmation of arrangements for this year’s Leaving Certificate examinations, Social Democrats spokesperson for Education, Gary Gannon TD, said: “The Government has failed this cohort of Leaving Certificate students who have endured high levels of stress and anxiety due to all the uncertainty surrounding this year’s exams. I welcome that the Minister […]

The Social Democrats have written to the Office of the Data Protection Commission requesting that they examine the destruction of survivors’ recorded testimonies by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. Jennifer Whitmore TD, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “The simple fact is that 550 testimonies have been destroyed. While […]