News

The Government has left families to fend for themselves as they are priced out of skyrocketing gas and electricity prices, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “This week, we learned two of Ireland’s household energy providers, Electric Ireland and Yuno Energy, will be charging an additional €250 to €300 every […]

The Government must make it a priority to investigate whether there is price gouging in the electric vehicle charging market, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Last week, we learned that the cost of charging an EV at Ionity public charging points was just as high as filling a car […]

Today’s warning from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) that grocery prices are set to rise further in the second half of this year highlights the need to give the Agri-Food Regulator additional powers, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “With households already […]

The Social Democrats are urging councillors on South Dublin County Council to vote against increases to social housing rents this week. The issue of rent increases has been pushed to a vote at a specially convened meeting this Thursday (June 25) by the Social Democrats, Sinn Féin and People Before Profit. The parties have used […]

A new report from Barnardos provides further evidence of the need for targeted energy and cost-of-living supports for vulnerable households, according to Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis. Deputy Ennis, who is the party’s new spokesperson on children, said: “This report confirms what we have known for some time – that too many families in Ireland […]

The Government must urgently change tack after a damning assessment by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) of its untargeted response to soaring energy costs, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Today’s report from the ESRI confirms what many of us have been […]

New figures showing more than half a million energy accounts in arrears must shock the Government out of its complacency, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has revealed there were 318,735 homes – one in seven – in […]

Electric Ireland’s announcement of imminent price increases for its electricity and gas customers will come as a further blow to struggling households across the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Electric Ireland customers are set to be hit with price increases of 8 per […]

Schools should not be insisting on students wearing expensive branded uniforms in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “There have been fresh warnings from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) about the burden placed on parents having to buy expensive branded uniforms from […]

The Government cannot continue to ignore the untapped potential of solar power to mitigate against ever-rising fuel and energy prices, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, made her comments following the publication of the Wholesale Price Index for April 2026 by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). […]