News

In light of concerns expressed by the IFA in relation to significant gaps between farmgate and retail prices and warnings of egg shortages, Government needs to fast-track long promised powers for the AgriFood Regulator, according to Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “More than eighteen months have passed since the AgriFood Regulator […]

News of increased school transport fees shows that free education continues to be a myth under this Government, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins said: “This is yet another charge being piled onto what is supposed to be a free education system. The decision to double costs for primary school […]

The latest inflation figures for the Irish economy further highlight the urgent need for the Government to introduce targeted energy supports to assist struggling households, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The latest Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) indicate that prices rose at an annualised rate of 3.6 per […]

Social Democrats higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins has criticised the Government’s newly published National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035, warning that it fails to address the core issue facing students and families which is the spiralling cost of accommodation. Deputy Cummins said: “The strategy places too much emphasis on increasing supply through the private sector, without […]

Figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) again point to Irish consumers being ripped off by energy companies, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The CSO published this morning that wholesale electricity prices last month were 23.3% lower than February 2025, and 14.9% […]

Social Democrats social protection spokesperson Eoin Hayes has written to the Tánaiste, urging him to include an emergency payment for people with disabilities in the package of cost-of-living measures that will be announced by the government tomorrow. Deputy Hayes said: “As the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran and Lebanon continue, surging gas and oil […]

The decision to reintroduce state exam fees, which would heap further pressure on families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, must be reversed, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The decision to bring back fees for students sitting the Junior and Leaving certificates sends the wrong signal to families who […]

The government must take urgent action to prevent price gouging by energy companies as the situation in the Middle East continues to worsen, according to Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore TD. Deputy Whitmore said: “There are reports today that the cost of home heating oil is already soaring. This is outrageous. Any company selling […]

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) provide further proof that consumers in Ireland are being ripped off by energy companies, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The game is finally up for opportunistic energy companies, with the CSO confirming that wholesale electricity prices […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore today attended an event to announce details of the Affordable Ireland Campaign’s cost-of-living demonstration march, which will take place in Dublin city centre on February 28. The campaign is backed by the Social Democrats and other Opposition parties, and includes various trade unions, students’ organisations, the Irish Traveller Movement and […]