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Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has strongly endorsed the calls of women and families affected by the CervicalCheck crisis for swift implementation of the detailed recommendations of the Scally report published today. “Dr Scally’s report lifts the lid on what is an exceptionally paternalistic culture within elements of the medical profession. It is incumbent […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed today’s adoption by the government of the Sláintecare health reform – but questioned its urgency in implementing it. “Today’s announcement is a resounding endorsement of the cross-party Sláintecare vision for a universal, single-tier health system.” Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed today’s adoption by the […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must provide clear assures that all publicly funded hospitals – including those connected to religious orders – will provide all legal healthcare services, including abortion services. “The Minister for Health needs to scotch any suggestions that patients will be denied vital services that […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must come clean about the government’s commitment to the Sláintecare health reform plan which has cross-party support. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance need to accept that the reform programme will need a dedicated funding stream of its own, and if they […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to compel the HSE to release smear slides to women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy so they can be independently reviewed. “It is now time for the government to commit to fully funding Sláintecare. We are still waiting on the […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to compel the HSE to release smear slides to women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy so they can be independently reviewed. “Minister for Health Simon Harris must make it a top priority for the HSE to agree this important protocol […]

Vulnerable older people denied Home-Help due to inadequate funding  The average weekly cost for home-support services is €160. This is a fraction of the weekly cost of the average nursing home which is over €1,000 per week. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has today demanded that the Minister for Health urgently deal with the […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to appoint a new head of the HSE on an interim basis – and to only fill the post permanently once key accountability reforms are carried out. Deputy Shortall said: “At the heart of the Cervical Check crisis is a lack of […]

The Social Democrats are seeking cross party support for legal changes to ban the commercial monetisation of the digital data of children and teens under the age of 18. The party is today tabling amendments to the government’s Data Protection Bill 2018 to prohibit the use of children’s data for marketing purposes. The party’s co-leader […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said immediate steps must be taken to make sure that people affected by the CervicalCheck controversy receive prompt and appropriate treatment and supports, and to guarantee that there is full accountability for mishandling of diagnosis cases. Deputy Shortall said: “I welcome the proposed setting up of an independent […]