News

The chief executives of Ireland’s local authorities must be hauled into a meeting by the Minister for the Environment and read the riot act for failing to clamp down on illegal commercial peat extractors, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and environment, said: “A report […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has criticised the Department of Agriculture for ongoing delays to ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) payments for 2024. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “Nationally, there are 2,961 farmers waiting for their 2024 advance, with 8,315 waiting for any payment at all. “In my own Wicklow […]

Dublin City Council’s failure to ensure adequate living conditions in social housing is a detriment to the health of its residents, according to Social Democrats TDs Jen Cummins and Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Cummins, who represents Dublin South-Central, said: “Emmet Buildings is just one of dozens of examples in my constituency where the quality of social […]

The Taoiseach cannot continue to talk out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to protecting Ireland’s marine environment, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on the marine, said: “Speaking in France this week at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Taoiseach said he […]

Today’s confirmation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Ireland is not prepared for the potentially catastrophic impact of climate change is extremely concerning, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “The findings of the first-ever National Climate Change Risk Assessment confirm our worst fears […]

The government must heed warnings that new housing developments will be put at risk if it continues to roll out the red carpet for data centres, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “Oonagh Buckley, secretary general at the Department of Environment, Climate and Energy, […]

The government is delusional if it believes Ireland won’t face billions in EU fines for missing its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said: “The latest analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a bleak assessment of the government’s […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Minister for Agriculture to come up with an eradication plan for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) that does not involve the culling of badgers. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on agriculture, said: “A recent investigation by the Journal found that of the 10,301 badgers culled in […]

The government must immediately outline how and when it intends to use the proceeds of the energy windfall tax to bring down sky-high bills for consumers, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications has revealed that approximately €189 million […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on Iarnród Éireann to take potential disruption to major public events into account when scheduling essential rail works. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s transport spokesperson, said: “Irish Rail’s tendency to curtail DART and commuter services on bank holiday weekends to facilitate works on the line urgently needs […]