News

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said that today’s announcement of localised restrictions in three counties highlighted the ongoing need to closely monitor all high-risk settings and called for increased scrutiny of working and living conditions associated with meat processing plants. Deputy Shortall said: “While this may be a sign that the testing […]

Róisin Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats and spokesperson on Finance, has expressed concerns at today’s announcement by Bank of Ireland of 1,400 job losses. Deputy Shortall said: “Even though redundancies in the banking sector had been anticipated, the scale of the job losses proposed is staggering and will see staff numbers reduced from […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has expressed surprise that there are no measures contained in the Government’s announcement on Phase 4 to address the fact that 90% of people travelling into Ireland are from non-green list countries. Deputy Shortall said: “This worrying figure will almost certainly rise now that five countries have […]

Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has paid tribute to John Hume, who passed away earlier today. Deputy Shortall said: “John Hume’s contribution to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland will be his enduring legacy. He will be remembered as a humanitarian, civil rights champion, risk taker and key architect of the […]

Róisín Shortall TD, Social Democrats spokesperson on Health, has called on the Government to immediately act on the recommendations contained in the Interim Report on Covid-19 in Nursing Homes, which was published today. Deputy Shortall said: “This report highlights the glaring gaps in the system which led to so many deaths of people in our […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said today that concerns expressed by the Data Protection Commission about social welfare checks at ports and airports will require a full and detailed response from the Taoiseach. Deputy Shortall said: “In the Dáil this week, I challenged the Taoiseach to state the specific legal basis under […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed a commitment from the Taoiseach that he will confirm today in writing that the disgraceful disability cuts of €20m will no longer go ahead. Deputy Shortall said: “These cuts, billed as ‘efficiency cuts’, were announced back in January before the Covid-19 crisis. And while there […]

Dublin North West TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall, has welcomed the inclusion of Finglas as the preferred route for the Luas Green Line extension but has questioned the 10-year timeline for delivery of the project. The proposed route will link the Green Line between Broombridge and Charlestown, with additional stops at […]

Social Democrats Co-Leader Róisín Shortall TD has called again on the Minister for Health to urgently halt the proposed funding cuts to Disability Services. Deputy Shortall said: “The new Minister for Health has not provided assurance that the disgraceful funding cuts to the disability sector will be halted, or reversed where they have already taken […]

Ministers’ game of ‘pass the parcel’ over responsibility for follow up calls to incoming passengers is putting the country at risk of further Covid-19 clusters, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. During health questions in today’s Dáil, Deputy Shortall said: “It is absolutely indefensible that only 3.5% of incoming passengers through […]