News

Commenting on the decision by Natwest to withdraw Ulster Bank from Ireland, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The outcome will have grave and serious implications and it represents very bad news for customers, staff and banking in Ireland. The news will be of huge concern to the bank’s one million customers, causing uncertainty about their banking needs. […]

Speaking out in favour of tighter monitoring of international travel, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Taoiseach to assign responsibility for travel and quarantining to a different Minister. Deputy Shortall, who is raising the issue in the Dáil today, commented: “As it stands, the Minister for Health is dealing […]

Speaking after today’s Health Committee session on Covid-19 in nursing homes, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, expressed her serious concern and disappointment that so little has changed since the first wave of the pandemic. Deputy Shortall commented: “It is shocking that we are now seeing a second tragic wave of Covid-19 in […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed today’s news that the European Medicines Agency has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine for authorisation in the EU. Deputy Shortall commented: “Today’s news that the EMA has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine will come as a relief, especially to older people. “It is regrettable that, at this […]

Reacting to today’s Government announcement on the extension of Level 5 and the introduction of additional restrictions relating to travel, Róisín Shortall TD, co leader of the Social Democrats, made the following points: Disappointing that proposals fall far short of a Zero Covid or elimination strategy. There is public support for going further. We need […]

Following today’s publication of NPHET’s latest letter to the Government, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has repeated her call for the implementation of stricter rules on international travel. Deputy Shortall said: “NPHET today, in its most severe warning to date, has made it very clear that the recent measures introduced by Government, […]

Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD, has called on the Government to aim for a safe level of daily Covid-19 cases before making a decision to lift current restrictions. Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Shortall said: “We now have record daily case numbers and I think it is important for the Government […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has expressed concern that the HSE is not adequately prepared to ensure sufficient staff are in place to administer Covid-19 vaccinations. Deputy Shortall said: “The Minister for Health urgently needs to provide clarity about who will be administering the vaccines, the staff numbers required and where the […]

Responding to today’s Government announcement of additional Covid-19 restrictions, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, commented: “The absence of measures to mitigate the risks posed by international travel continues to be a key weakness in the Government’s response to the pandemic. “Minister Eamon Ryan needs to explain why the UK and South Africa […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has today called on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to clarify vital details of the vaccination programme for Covid-19. She asked the Minister to provide clarity in relation to the expected phasing of the delivery of the vaccine and the schedule to which he is working, as well […]