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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 […]

The passing of legislation that would result in the archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes being sealed for 30 years would be an act of political cowardice, according to the Social Democrats. Dublin Central TD, Gary Gannon, said: “This week, politicians across the island received thousands of emails from citizens […]

Calling out the Government for not grasping the opportunity in Budget 2021 to move to a public model of childcare provision, Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats spokesperson for children said: “Our childcare system fell apart on its first major test in the early stages of Covid-19. The privatised, under-resourced model which successive governments have created […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has said that the speedy implementation of green infrastructure projects announced in Budget 2021 will be key to delivering on our climate action ambitions. Deputy Whitmore, the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “Today’s budget promised investment in retrofitting, EV infrastructure and energy efficiency programmes. While […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has said that Budget 2021 has overlooked the children and stretched families who have borne the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “A total of €17.75 billion allocated in this budget will be the largest ever in a budget, […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Climate Change, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has welcomed today’s publication of the Climate Action Bill. However, she said it must be poverty and disability-proofed to ensure a just transition as part of our carbon reduction journey so that no workers or communities are left behind. Deputy Whitmore said: “This Bill has been […]

Speaking in the Dáil today, Jennifer Whitmore TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, called on the Government to commit to funding and implementing the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. Deputy Whitmore said: “Today marks the start of National Breastfeeding Week so I felt it was a good time to remind the Government of Ireland’s poor […]

The Government has squandered a valuable opportunity to eliminate childhood poverty in Ireland by voting down a Social Democrats’ Private Members’ Motion tonight, according to Jennifer Whitmore TD, the party’s spokesperson for Children. Deputy Whitmore said: “The Government’s counter motion which was passed this evening is essentially a charter for guaranteeing that a certain number […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, today proposed the Social Democrats’ Dáil motion calling for the eradication of child poverty in the lifetime of this Dáil, in contrast to previous Government targets which sought to merely reduce numbers. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Children, has responded to the Government’s counter motion, […]