News

We are still awaiting the government’s updated policy statement on data centres – which has not been revised since 2018 The surge in energy consumption by data centres underscores the government’s ‘see-no-evil, hear-no-evil’ approach to the climate emergency, according to Social Democrats Energy Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “The country has been convulsed in recent weeks by […]

The cost of living crisis is not impacting everyone equally The government has again failed to sufficiently target its cost-of-living measures to low and middle-income households, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “In recent weeks, the Central Bank, the St Vincent de Paul, the ESRI and even the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight […]

In the middle of an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, the government has the power to do more than offer arrogant advice If the government has run out of ideas on how to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, it is welcome to adopt proposals that the Social Democrats have long advocated, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer […]

This is now an emergency situation and the government must treat it as such. Energy price increases of nearly 40pc by Bord Gáis Energy are going to have a devastating impact on those already struggling to heat their homes, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. ‘The energy price increases announced by Bord Gáis […]

We cannot tolerate a situation in which certain retailers or suppliers may be engaging in cartel behaviour or price gouging Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore has written to the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) requesting that it opens an investigation into reports of price gouging and cartelism by motor fuel suppliers in […]

Extraordinary measures must be taken to insulate ordinary workers and families from Putin’s price shocks A maximum price cap on fuel must be introduced to stop the unsustainable increases in prices, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “A maximum cap on fuel prices is the only way the government can ease the burden […]

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 […]

Childhood is short and the government has limited time to intervene The Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card for 2022 makes clear that the government is continuing to fail our most vulnerable children, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “The government has received an ‘E’ grade on child homelessness, due to persistent increases in […]

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 act now to prevent any further damage Two separate reports have today confirmed our worst fears about the impact of the pandemic on marginalised children, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting following the publication of the Annual Report of Ireland’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and […]

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 […]