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Oil prices are now at record levels while the wholesale price of gas has doubled in just a week The government must immediately act to reduce the cost of fuel – and must also ensure that price gouging at the pumps is not taking place, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “The cost […]

Studies have indicated that Ireland is home to between 10pc and 20pc of the world’s basking shark population It is hugely welcome that basking sharks are finally going to be a protected species in Ireland, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting after Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan announced the government […]

The Minister must provide assurances, grounded in something other than his cheery optimism, that targets can be achieved Environment Minister Eamon Ryan must clarify if the government will meet its climate action targets this year or not, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Yesterday, we had a further devastating report from the Intergovernmental […]

Over-promising and under-delivering has been a recurring theme of this government. The government has promised that 500,000 homes will be retrofitted by 2030, but there is little clarity on how this target will be delivered in the plan announced today, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “The government has set a target of […]

The measures the government introduces must be targeted at those who need the assistance most  The government must stop dithering and take immediate action to tackle the cost of living crisis, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “The cost-of-living crisis seems to have come as a surprise to the government, which is now […]

The government must remove these 62,000 holiday homes from the credit scheme The government must clarify if it intends to spend more than €6 million on electricity subsidies for holiday home owners, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “We know we have a cost of living crisis and the high cost of energy […]

If the government is serious about stopping the rot, it must publish this report immediately  The government is sitting on a scathing report which details chronic underinvestment in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting after Taoiseach Micheál Martin refused to indicate, in the […]

If the government is serious about stopping the rot, it must publish this report immediately  The government is sitting on a scathing report which details chronic underinvestment in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting after Taoiseach Micheál Martin refused to indicate, in the […]

The bleak findings of CCAC report should be a wakeup call for the government A damning report from the Climate Change Advisory Council today confirms the government is all talk and no action when it comes to tackling climate change, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “There is very little good news in […]

An idling engine can produce up to twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore has today launched legislation to ban car idling at schools. “Idling cars are bad for the environment, public health and people’s pockets. This is why I am launching legislation today that will […]

Our climate action targets cannot be met without these large-scale public transport projects The delay of Metrolink for at least ten years is a catastrophe for the greater Dublin region and means we are almost assured of missing our climate action targets, according to Social Democrats Transport Spokesperson Catherine Murphy. “The revised Dublin transport plan […]

An enhanced grant support scheme would make EVs a more viable and attractive option The government should introduce an enhanced grant scheme for electric vehicles (EVs) for those living in rural Ireland, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Many people in rural Ireland have no transport option other than their private car. If […]

Most of the heavy lifting has been left to the public and the private sector The government’s Climate Action Plan is ambitious – as it should be – but lacks the financial firepower that would make it a success, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “I hope the government’s plan to address climate […]