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Accelerated decarbonisation of our bus and rail fleet, along with improvements to existing public transport services, will be required to reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and help us meet our climate action targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “A report from the […]

The Government must spend less time trying to find loopholes to dodge EU fines and more time making genuine attempts to reduce our emissions, according to Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Projections by the Environmental Protection Agency show an overall reduction of 25% in  greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is possible […]

It is scandalous that more than half a billion euro raised for climate action measures through a fuel tax has been left unspent when it could have been used for the rollout of a nationwide solar panel installation programme, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, […]

The considerable potential of solar panels to reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels – and bring down energy bills for households and businesses – continues to be a blind spot for this Government, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Simon Harris revealed over the […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has accused the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) of being asleep at the wheel for failing to complete an investigation into suspected price gouging by energy companies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Soaring energy prices are feeding into the wider cost-of-living crisis and fuelling […]

The Government’s inability to provide a clear timeline for the delivery of the 2026 Climate Action Plan is putting Ireland on a road to financial and environmental ruin, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “The Climate Action Plan is crucial in setting out all the […]

The protests witnessed in Galway and elsewhere over the past week could have been avoided if the Government had acted sooner to quell public anger over soaring energy prices and cost-of-living pressures, according to Social Democrats by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich. Míde said: “These protests were a manifestation of how desperate many people feel as […]

The Government must immediately clarify if the postponement of carbon tax increases will reduce the budget for retrofitting and other climate action measures, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy and climate spokesperson, said: “We are in the middle of an unprecedented price shock when it comes the […]

Ireland is paying a high price because of successive governments’ failures on climate action and adaptation, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “The latest report from the Climate Change Advisory Council makes for stark reading. It confirms that 2025 was Ireland’s second warmest year […]

This government’s approach to climate has gone to the dogs, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore TD. Deputy Whitmore said: “In 2023 and 2024, the last coalition published those year’s respective Climate Action Plans the December before – it’s now February and there’s no sign of this year’s plan. “Last year’s plan, the […]