Jennifer Whitmore (50) is a founding member of the Social Democrats and was first elected as a councillor for the party in 2014.

She entered national politics after securing a seat in the 2020 general election and has since served as the party’s spokesperson on climate, biodiversity and children.

Prior to her political career, she worked in fisheries and aquaculture. Later, she spent a decade in Australia where she worked as a policy analyst developing environmental law, water management and energy policies alongside government ministers.

Locally, she has campaigned on issues such as shortages of school places and the need for improved public transport.

Ms Whitmore lives in Delgany, Co Wicklow, with her husband Tony and her four children aged between nine and 18.

She had a serious health scare in June this year, following a spontaneous rupture of her spleen, but went on to make a quick recovery.