News

A Social Democrats’ motion highlighting the deepening crisis in dental care in Ireland will be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday (May 22). Róisín Shortall TD, the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Dental care continues to be one of the most neglected areas of our health service. “The school screening programme is of particular concern. Children […]

The HSE’s recruitment freeze is preventing the recruitment of funded specialist nursing posts, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In a reply to a parliamentary question I submitted, it was confirmed that 13 specialist nursing posts in neurological services remain unfilled. Even though funding for these positions was provided in Budget 2022, the […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has questioned why the Health Minister’s review of urgent and emergency care capacity in the mid-west is only happening now. “This latest development has all the signs of a political stunt. “A second ED has been needed in the mid-west for years. Why has the Minister only started listening […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has welcomed the Taoiseach’s willingness to consider her proposal for the State to purchase Barrington’s Hospital in Limerick as part of a range of measures needed to solve the healthcare crisis in the region. “In response to my proposal in the Dáil today, the Taoiseach indicated that consideration would […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has welcomed the Taoiseach’s response to her in the Dáil that there will be a three-month extension of a temporary payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid. “It is simply unconscionable that this cohort of workers, who have been unable to resume their employment due to ongoing Covid symptoms, were […]

The sale of the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin represents a missed opportunity for the Government to deliver on a key Sláintecare commitment, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “It emerged this week that a deal has been reached to sell the Beacon Hospital to the asset management wing of the Australian owned […]

The findings of an Oxfam report into global inequality presents an opportunity for a renewed debate on the need for a wealth tax in Ireland, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Oxfam’s report, which has been released as political leaders gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, makes for stark […]

The Government continues to be in denial about the impact of health service underfunding on patient care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Reports in the media today of Paschal Donohoe’s trenchant criticisms of financial management at the Health Department and the HSE are further evidence that the Government deliberately underfunded the health service […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has called on the Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, to take questions in the Dáil this week and explain why there is a €2 billion hole in the health service budget for 2024. “Minister Donohoe must come into the Dáil this week and explain why this Government continues […]

The HSE’s latest recruitment freeze is a short-sighted decision that will directly impact patient care, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “By OECD standards, Ireland ranks only about halfway in terms of health funding. In this week’s Budget, the Government were throwing around money like it was going out of fashion. At the […]