News

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Biodiversity Deputy Jennifer Whitmore called on the Minister for Heritage to establish a special wildlife crimes unit within the Gardaí. The call comes on national biodiversity week after mass Buzzard kills and large scale deliberate fires in Wicklow. Deputy Whitmore said “we declared a national climate change and biodiversity emergency last […]

Responding a survey of childcare providers by Early Childhood Ireland published today, SocDems spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, called on the Department of Children to urgently rethink their planning for re-opening of the childcare sector. Whitmore said: “The approach to reopening the childcare sector has been beset with problems. This latest survey shows that […]

Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore has today called on the Minister for Children and the Minister for Health to include a child psychologist or child development expert on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). Deputy Whitmore says: “On NPHET there is a range of public health science experts tasked with […]

On World Bee Day, SocDems spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, calls for a mind-shift on how we think of urban green patches and gardens. Deputy Whitmore said: “Our bees are under threat. They and other pollinators are key component of our eco-systems. None of us would survive without them. The increasing reduction […]

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed An Post’s recent move to expand the reduced postage rate for all businesses – originally only available to independent bookshops as part of a collaboration between An Post and Bookselling Ireland. Whitmore had previously called on An Post to roll out the initiative to other businesses affected by COVID19 […]

Free Flu Vaccine for children welcome but national vaccination database also required – Whitmore Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Health that the Flu Vaccine will be available to all children free of charge. This is something the Social Democrats have previously called for […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore has called on the government to urgently develop workable plans for the provision of childcare for frontline healthcare workers. The call comes following the recent announcement from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs that their proposed outreach scheme is unworkable. Deputy Whitmore has written to the Oireachtas […]

Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore, has backed calls by Birdwatch Ireland and other environmental groups for the establishment of a Wildlife Crime Unit – something the Social Democrats themselves had proposed in their February 2020 General Election Manifesto. The call comes in the wake of the poisoning of 23 […]

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore has called for a widening to other small Irish businesses of the postal rates now available to small bookshops during the Covid-19 crisis. Deputy Whitmore said: “Very many small independent businesses, including bookshops, have had to close their shop doors in response to the lockdown and many businesses […]

Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore, has said it is a matter of extreme urgency that Government and relevant stakeholders meet to discuss the insurance implications for childcare providers who are considering participating in the proposed scheme for the provision of childcare to healthcare workers. She said information released today points out […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore, and TD for Wicklow, calls for the establishment of a Transition Task Force to develop a plan specifically for children and young people to transition out of Covid-19 restrictions. Deputy Whitmore stated: “People often forget that children and young people have also been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 […]

The Social Democrats Spokesperson on Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has reminded people to be aware that the updated advisory for those cocooning  is not just confined to over 70’s. Whitmore highlighted the fact that the phrase ‘cocooning’ also applies to medically vulnerable people and in many cases this includes children. She said she wanted to highlight […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children, Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore, called for the retention and enhancement of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, following media reports of a proposal to disband the department. Deputy Whitmore said “it would be a hugely regressive step for children and young people across the country if it were confirmed […]

The Social Democrats have published a research paper showing that a number of Counties suffer disproportionately when it comes to the allocation of public service resource. Meath and Kildare fare very badly with Wicklow not far behind.  The party says current funding systems have disadvantaged area of high population growth across a large number of […]