News

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the government must take urgent heed of today’s stark warning by the State’s competitiveness body that our economy is under threat because of an over-reliance on multinationals. “Our high cost of living is another significant threat to our economic competitiveness that must be addressed. Housing, transport, healthcare […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must provide clear assures that all publicly funded hospitals – including those connected to religious orders – will provide all legal healthcare services, including abortion services. “The Minister for Health needs to scotch any suggestions that patients will be denied vital services that […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the Minister for Health must come clean about the government’s commitment to the Sláintecare health reform plan which has cross-party support. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance need to accept that the reform programme will need a dedicated funding stream of its own, and if they […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said the publication by the UK Government of its Brexit White Paper lays a foundation for its position – but cautioned that a number of potential pitfalls will need to be addressed as soon as possible. “From a first reading of the White Paper, there are elements that […]

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. “The Government is shirking its responsibility to implement the decisions of the Constitutional Convention which proposed a series of […]

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. “It is now time for the government to commit to fully funding Sláintecare. We are still waiting on the […]

Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD, has welcomed the Minister for Justice’s announcement that his department will be restructured as “broadly positive,” but has cautioned that the Minister must ensure the full cooperation of his department. “If we are to ensure accountability at every level, the overly close and cosy relationship between the […]

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. “The report gives clear evidence that legislation is needed and it’s needed now. Despite this, and the fact we […]

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. “Minister for Health Simon Harris must make it a top priority for the HSE to agree this important protocol […]

Vulnerable older people denied Home-Help due to inadequate funding  The average weekly cost for home-support services is €160. This is a fraction of the weekly cost of the average nursing home which is over €1,000 per week. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has today demanded that the Minister for Health urgently deal with the […]