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Last year more than 4,300 people were hospitalised with the seasonal flu in Ireland – more than the total number hospitalised so far with Covid-19. Speaking in today’s Dáil, Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, called on Government to secure additional supply of the flu vaccine to counteract a surge of flu […]

Despite Government advice to wear face masks in public spaces, compliance is still very low. Face masks should be a requirement in high risk spaces to protect public health as the economy reopens, according to Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. Speaking on the matter, Deputy Shortall said, “The Government needs to […]

The Irish Government needs to take immediate action on foreign travel to prioritise public health and provide clarity to the public, according to Róisín Shortall TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Shortall commented, “The EU yesterday announced a green list of countries that it considers safe for non-essential travel, which excludes Ireland. “There […]

Social Democrats co-leader has described today’s newly formed government as a retrograde step and accused Fianna Fáil of forgoing the opportunity to break with the past and choosing instead to maintain the old guard of Irish politics.  She said people had voted for permanent change and certainly didn’t expect to find themselves with a grand coalition […]

The roadmap for fully resuming the health service, including elective surgeries and screening services, is long overdue and now a matter of urgency, according to Róisín Shortall TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. She said, “For each of the last three weeks, the Minister has promised that the roadmap for the health service would […]

The Social Democrats have reacted to the publication of today’s Programme for Government by reiterating their call for a clear outline of how it is intended to fund the measures included in the document. The party says that the main priorities of any government must be an improvement in public services and a rebooting of […]

Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, has spoken out against this Friday’s (12 June 2020) deadline for patients and family members of deceased patients to opt out of a study which will collect tissue from decades of brain surgery. She is calling on the Minister for Health to extend the opt-out deadline […]

The Social Democrats have today condemned the actions of President Donald Trump and all who seek to fuel racial tensions and racial inequality both at home and abroad. The party reiterated its previous assertion that Donald Trump’s style of politics is regressive, demeaning and now downright dangerous. Party co-leader Catherine Murphy said: “What we are […]

Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed the Minister for Health’s commitment at her request in the Dáil today to look into immediate publication of the refreshed version of A Vision for Change. She said, “Given the urgent situation facing mental health providers in the context of Covid-19, the refreshed policy […]

A number of significant Government policy failures in relation to older people’s services have ultimately cost lives in the Covid-19 crisis, the Covid-19 Committee heard today from Deputy Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. She made the point during today’s question session with Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, and Meryvn […]