Latest news with #Whitmore
The Journal
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Coalition accused of being 'epic wasters' in testy final Dáil sitting
THE GOVERNMENT COALITION was accused of being 'epic wasters' in the Dáil today by Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. During the final Leaders' Questions session before politicians finish up for the summer, Tánaiste Simon Harris, who was answering on behalf of government today, included testy back-and-forths between himself and his parliamentary colleagues. On infrastructure, Whitmore said the coalition has failed invest in the critical infrastructure needed to care for the country's population. The Wicklow TD said: 'You talk about the importance of infrastructure as if it has suddenly dawned on you, while Irish Water warns it will run out of capacity for new homes in Dublin in three years. 'We are on course to have zero – zero – offshore wind generated by 2030 and our electricity grid is on the verge of collapse.' She said that the government had not promised to provide supports to public services, households or wide-ranging cost-of-living expenses in the upcoming budget either. Whitmore added: The reality is, this government, you're epic wasters. 'You've wasted time, you have wasted opportunity, and you have wasted a generational opportunity to invest in a better future, and you've wasted our money.' Advertisement Responding, Harris said Whitmore's party have previously demanded that more precisely targeted measures are introduced in the budget, which the government intends to do this year. He rejected claims that government had wasted money and time. The Tánaiste agreed with Whitmore on the challenges facing the delivery of infrastructure, and said that a 'very significant increase' in investment would be allocated in the revised National Development Plan for that. During the debate Harris was interrupted by Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty after claiming he was concerned over Sinn Féin's chairperson position on the Oireachtas Defence and National Security Committee. Doherty demanded that Harris retract his statement, in which he claimed he did not think it was a 'good idea' for the party to chair the committee. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty demanded that Harris retract his remarks about his party. 'That is a disgrace. Disgraceful politics,' Doherty said, while on his feet in the Dáil. 'I don't think it's a particularly shocking position for the leader of Fine Gael to hold,' Harris responded. Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín also critiqued the government's record during the session today. He accused the coalition of having poor attendance, failing to deal with issues in housing and healthcare and alleged that crime had risen as a result of their policies. The Tánaiste rejected the Meath TD's assertions, and later added: 'I haven't had as long to write your report card as you've had to write ours. But here's my go at it. Name-calling and personalised attacks, top of the class. Peadar has excelled this term.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Tánaiste criticises Opposition for wanting to spend more
Tánaiste Simon Harris has criticised the Opposition for wanting to spend more money, even though there are major concerns about US trade tariffs and the future of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland. Speaking during Leaders' Questions before the Dáil ends for the summer, Mr Harris said there are measures being taken to help households, including extending the 9% VAT rate on energy bills, along with an expansion of the fuel allowance. But he said that anyone who fails to take into account the level of instability facing the economy simply does not get it. Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said that there are now over 300,000 homes behind on their electricity bills and 175,000 behind on their gas bills. He said the Government was about to swan off for the summer while refusing to commit to delivering a cost-of-living package in the Budget. Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore accused the Government of being "epic wasters". Ms Whitmore said people are worried about putting food on the table. She said there are economic clouds on the horizon and a growing sense of worry about what the future holds. She added that the Government splashed the cash in an attempt to buy votes last year, but now the Government is saying one-off payments are a bad idea as there is no election on the cards. Ms Whitmore said her party told the Government to target measures and supports. She added that Fine Gael styles itself as a party of fiscal probity, but in reality, it has been throwing public money around like "snuff at a wake". She said public spending is up 50% in a few short years, but Ireland has a housing crisis, record homelessness, threadbare disability services, a cost of living crisis and energy and water infrastructure that is crumbling. "This Government, you're epic wasters, you have wasted time, opportunity… and you have wasted our money." Responding, the Tánaiste accused the Opposition of hypocrisy, and he asked the deputy which of the one-off payments that were in place last year she was against? He said the united Opposition has not agreed on a presidential candidate, and cannot agree on budgetary matters either. He added that Sinn Féin want universal one-off measures, and the Social Democrats want targeted measures, but the Government will deliver a Budget in October. "It's not about giving anyone a lecture in fiscal prudence, it's about saying thank God we're approaching this moment of economic instability with full employment... with surpluses and a rainy day fund," said Mr Harris. 10,000 promised homes never materialised - Aontú Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said many people around the country will look to mark the Government's "report card" on the last day of the Dáil. He said 10,000 homes promised by the Government "never materialised". He said the only thing that is more affordable at the moment is cocaine. "Criminals are doing a better job in creating a functional market for an illegal drug than you are in terms of housing," said Mr Tóibín. In response, Mr Harris said Ireland has record levels of employment, an economy that's running budget surpluses, and "an ability to create effectively two national wealth funds to protect our country from economic shocks". "We have been able to take real measures in the here and now to help carers, to help increase the fuel allowance, to help the student grants, to help reduce the cost of books." Mr Harris said there has been housing reform and major reform to the health system. He thanked Deputy Tóibín for his perspective and said the Government has "already undertaken a lot of work". "We will continue to do it while you will continue to critique us from over there," Mr Harris added.
RTÉ News
12-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Dáil blackout brings cost of living crisis into spotlight for Government
"Have you paid the electricity bill, minister", came the pointed quip from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore in a Dáil chamber unexpectedly thrown into darkness on Wednesday morning. A power outage had temporarily shut off the Leinster House lights and, as luck would have it, the black-out happened just as the Government was insisting it is not trying to hide the cost of living crisis in the political shadows. Moments earlier, the Dáil had been locked in debate over surging grocery prices and TD claims some families are spending more than €3,000 a year on buying the basics from supermarkets. As the lights flickered back on, Deputy Whitmore took the opportunity to intensify the political spotlight. "When the Government talks about the crisis in grocery prices it tends to do so in the past tense. "It talks about rapid price increases when Russia invaded Ukraine, as if the crisis ended there" Deputy Whitmore continued. "However, what is not acknowledged is that those prices never came down and now grocery costs are skyrocketing again, while the Government sits idly by and watches it happen. "Part of the privilege of being in Government is that the Minister of State can intervene. "The big question the Minister of State needs to answer today is why she has done none of these things. Why is the Cabinet acting like bystanders, narrating a problem instead of doing anything?" Deputy Whitmore asked. The claim was something the Government could no doubt have done without. However, given the Opposition's renewed focus on the cost of living crisis this week, and the Coalition's view that no specific package to address the situation will be included in this year's budget, it is one likely to be returned to in the weeks and months to come. Cost of living crisis The reason for that renewed opposition focus on the cost of living crisis is largely due to developments outside of Leinster House in recent days. On Tuesday, children's charity Barnardos published the findings of a new survey of 1,000 families, conducted on its behalf by Amarach research. The survey said 40% of families who took part have borrowed money to pay for their children's essentials, and that one in three households went into arrears on their electricity bills at least once between April 2024 and April this year. In addition, it also found that 40% of parents have skipped meals so their children had enough to eat, and 12% have used a food bank in recent months. Those figures were followed on Thursday by new Central Statistics Office findings showing that food inflation (4.6%) increased by more than twice the rate of general inflation (1.8%) in the 12 months to June, with some families now paying upwards of €3,000 per year for groceries. And they came in the same week as a lack of clarity continued over the student fees saga, with students protesting outside of the Dáil and Trinity College Dublin issuing invoices of just over €3,000 to some students for the new academic year. Add into the mix the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll which last weekend suggested cost of living (32%) remains the second most important issue for voters behind only housing (51%), and the raft of numbers and statistics point to one conclusion: The cost of living crisis debate has not gone away, and remains a weak spot for Government which the Opposition is now keen to target. Dáil debates That targeting was most keenly felt on Wednesday, when - after the Leinster House black-out was quickly resolved - the spotlight was soon shone firmly on the issue. Hitting out at the situation during a Social Democrats motion seeking to address "price gouging" by supermarkets, party TD Gary Gannon said families across Ireland are having to choose "between eating and heating" while party colleague Rory Hearne said food banks have confirmed the biggest growth in people attending are those in "working families". Similar concerns were raised by Labour's Ged Nash, who said "if it walks, talks and acts like price gouging, it very well may be", before dismissing previous promises to take action without ensuring reforms were introduced as the equivalent of the Father Ted reference "can anything be said for another mass?" And they were joined by Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty who accused Government of "sitting on your hands" over the issue, a claim the Coalition was quick to reject. Responding to the criticism and further allegations that previous promises to address the high price of groceries failed to stop those prices rising higher, Fianna Fáil's Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Niamh Smyth said the Government is not ignoring the issue. "You walk into a supermarket, come out with a handful of items and will have spent €50 or more. "I appreciate that is a huge challenge for parents. In today's world, to have parents going without feeding themselves to ensure their children are fed is very difficult," Minister Smyth said, adding that Government is taking steps to resolve the situation. These steps, she said, include plans to give the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission greater powers to take action against supermarkets, a view repeated on Friday by Fine Gael's Minister of State for Retail Alan Dillon. Some progress, perhaps, but on the wider point of whether a cost of living package is needed in the upcoming budget is causing some division too, with Sinn Fein TD Johnny Guirke claiming while special supports are needed none are being promised as there is "no election this year". That stand-off had been repeated a day earlier over the student fees controversy, with Fianna Fáil TD for Further and Higher Education James Lawless coming under similar pressure over whether help will be provided to households struggling with rising costs. During a debate on the potential €1,000 increase in student fees this September, taking place in the Dáil as students watched on from the public gallery, Minister Lawless was told by Independent TD Seamus Healy that Government is "throwing students under the bus" if they go through with the fee increases. That view was repeated by Labour's Spokesperson on Education and Youth Eoghan Kenny who said when you have to choose between education and costs "you realise how little you are valued by the State", and by Sinn Féin's Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire who said "there are Cabinet ministers who think the cost of living crisis is over". Those claims were roundly rejected by Minister Lawless, who insisted Fianna Fáil is the "party of education" and that while he agreed with the sentiment of some of the Opposition barbs many were in his view "cheap populism" and "points scoring". But with rising costs and growing financial pressures in households nationwide, it is an open question over who voters would rather believe. Extra budget supports or not Politically, it all leads to one brewing pre-budget row, even this far out from October - and one which may prove difficult for Government to overcome. In recent months, the Government has clearly and repeatedly outlined the economic constraints it may need to work within over the coming period due to the ongoing financial certainty in the wider world. But while that is a widely accepted view, the Coalition cannot ignore the financial pressures being faced by the general public either. That is a political dilemma and one that the Opposition calls for greater cost of living support is likely to increasingly target, and also one which a Government caught between national need and individual household circumstances may find increasingly difficult to avoid.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WOMEN'S PRO BASEBALL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF FEMALE BASEBALL SUPERSTAR AND TRAILBLAZER KELSIE WHITMORE
BOSTON, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is announcing the signing of female baseball superstar and trailblazer, Kelsie Whitmore, who has been shattering barriers in both men's and women's baseball. Attending the WPBL's historic tryouts next month at the Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Whitmore aims to be the WPBL's top draft pick in 2025. "Joining the WPBL is not only an exciting opportunity for myself, but even more important to recognize how great this is for the younger generation of girls who play baseball," said Kelsie Whitmore. "I am excited to be a part of a league where I feel accepted and valued in. Most of all, I can't wait to compete with other women who love the game as much as I do." The first woman to sign a professional contract with an MLB partner affiliate league, Whitmore made history in 2022 by joining the Staten Island Ferryhawks of the Atlantic League as a two-way player and played in a combined 24 games between 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Whitmore made history again when she played with the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League where she was a starter and pitched 13 games. Prior to this, Whitmore was signed by the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association in 2016 and has been a part of the USA Women's National Baseball Team since 2014 clinching gold at the 2015 Pan American Games. At the 2024 World Cup in Canada, Whitmore won a silver medal and all-tournament recognition as the pitcher with the best record. Additionally, she was named USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year in 2022. More recently, she was selected for the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 2025 – Sports and was in the documentary "See Her Be Her" featuring the world's best baseball stars. Before her professional career, Whitmore received a full-ride softball scholarship to Cal State University Fullerton and, in 2021, was named Conference Player of the Year. In high school, she was the only female to play on the team at Temecula Valley High School. Growing up, she played travel ball and All Stars for Little League. The WPBL's inaugural tryouts are set to take place August 22nd-24th at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and will include drill-focused sessions and athletic performance testing during which player evaluations and cuts will take place. On Monday, August 25th, there will be live game play at Nationals Park where final cuts will take place to determine which players will be eligible for the WPBL Draft. Currently, over 450 female baseball players from around-the-world are confirmed to attend the WPBL's tryouts. In other recent news, the WPBL announced a strategic partnership with Fremantle, one of the world's leading entertainment companies. In addition, Muse Capital was named the official advisory partner of the League with Muse Co-Founder and global women's sports leader, Assia Grazioli-Venier, named Chair of the League. The WPBL is the only professional women's baseball league in the United States and will launch with six teams in the spring of 2026 and consist of a regular season, playoffs, and championship. For more information on the WPBL, visit About the WPBL:The Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is the only professional women's baseball league in the United States. The league will launch six teams in the spring of 2026 and feature a regular-season, playoffs and championship. The WPBL's inaugural tryouts will take place in August of 2025 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., with top players earning eligibility for the WPBL Draft in the fall of 2025. Earlier this year, the WPBL announced a strategic partnership with Fremantle, one of the world's leading entertainment companies. In addition, Muse Capital was named the official advisory partner of the League with Muse Co-Founder and global women's sports leader, Assia Grazioli-Venier, named Chair of the League. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Women's Pro Baseball League Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Times
My house lost half its value because of HS2 — and I need to sell
I bought Lake House in Whitmore, Staffordshire, for £1.175 million in 2009 with my ex-husband [says Steph Wilkin, 56, a topographical surveyor]. It's absolutely gorgeous — a three-bedroom equestrian property with stables, nine acres and two great big lakes. But now, according to HS2, this wonderful grade II listed property is worth only £757,500 — just over half the amount we paid for it. There is no going back on this valuation, issued in June 2024, seven months after Rishi Sunak cancelled HS2, and nowhere to appeal to. It's such a stressful situation and I don't know where to turn next. We divorced in August 2020. The financial settlement of the divorce stated that Lake House was to be sold. I would receive 62 per cent of the proceeds, when the £300,000 mortgage had been settled. My ex-husband still lives in the house and pays the interest-only mortgage under the divorce financial order.
