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Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today said it would be highly irresponsible for the Minister for Health to allow himself to be strong-armed into signing off on a deal on the new National Maternity Hospital without watertight assurances about its ownership, governance and environmental standards. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today said it […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today urged the Minister for Health to vigorously pursue the State purchase of the site in Elm Park earmarked for the new National Maternity Hospital. “The only way to ensure that this much needed hospital will be an entirely public and secular hospital is for the State to buy […]

One of the “most read” articles on The Irish Times website last week ran under the headline: “No way in hell would I move back to Ireland: Emigrant builders have their say.” “Taoiseach wants to use your money in a cynical attempt to buy votes.” One of the “most read” articles on The Irish Times […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today accused the government of betraying people with disabilities by its continued denial of promised rights under an important UN Convention. “This week we marked International Day of Disabled Persons 2018. Yet the government continues to betray people with disabilities by denying them the right to bring complaints under […]

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. “Sexual health check-ups including rapid-test HIV testing, must be both free and readily available nationwide.” Social Democrats co-leader Róisín […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has today strongly backed the growing campaign for the new National Maternity Hospital to be publicly owned and run. “I fully support the growing campaign of civil society organisations and individuals who are rightly demanding that the state should own and control this important asset which will be a […]

Táiniste, Minister, Taoiseach, in previous Brexit debates in this chamber  both I and many others have repeatedly urged that in the context of the negotiations that the British government spell out exactly what their plans to avoid a hard border in Ireland would actually look like. “While there is an acceptance that this deal, if […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to direct the HSE to carry out an audit of women who have been given the all-clear based on tests for a specific gene which puts them at a high risk of cancer. “It’s vital that all women who have undergone the […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD to-leader welcomes tonights Brexit deal but cautions against premature optimism given the political instability caused by the deal in the UK “This step in reaching an agreement is very welcome progress. However, it would be naïve to ignore the political realities facing the deal in the current political environment […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on the Minister for Justice to clarify if he has agreed an open-ended arrangement to cover the costs and damages of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan in a civil action by Garda whistle-blower Maurice McCabe. “It is extremely galling for people to see the state providing and […]