News

The government response can be summarised as chaotic and incoherent. The reopening plan announced today betrays an abject lack of planning and foresight by the government, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “With just three days left to go before many businesses reopen, for the first time in 19 months, the rules are being […]

The Government missed its own unambitious target of lifting 70,000 children out of poverty by the end of 2020 The Government must act on child poverty and homelessness – and set up an Oireachtas Committee so that its progress can be monitored, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore and Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. […]

We now have a tripartite energy crisis – in cost, demand and antiquated infrastructure The Dáil urgently needs to set aside time for a debate on surging energy prices, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore, who has written to the Business Committee requesting time to debate this matter at the earliest opportunity. “The […]

It is not acceptable for the Minister to keep Oireachtas members in the dark Attempts by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to defer his attendance at the Oireachtas Health Committee, to discuss Sláintecare, until after the budget are not acceptable, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “A crisis has engulfed Sláintecare. There have now […]

There are fundamental problems with Sláintecare that those charged with implementing it view as intractable Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Secretary General of the Department of Health Robert Watt must come to the Health Committee to answer questions about the crisis engulfing Sláintecare, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Yesterday, the chairperson of […]

The decision of both of these eminent people to resign on the same day is significant The announcement that two of the most senior officials, tasked with implementing Sláintecare, have resigned on the same day raises fundamental questions about the progress of this hugely important reform of our health services, according to Social Democrats Health […]

At every step, and every stage, women and pregnant people have been ignored The government must immediately publish a roadmap for the reopening of maternity services, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “I welcome the publication of the reopening plan for society and the economy, but am struck by a glaring omission. Nowhere, in […]

We are a resilient people, but this pandemic has tested us like never before Today marks a new dawn in our fight against covid, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Today marks a new dawn in our fight against covid as we make preparations for what will hopefully be the final unravelling of the […]

It is extraordinary that €51m has already been spent on this project – before any final decision that it will proceed at the Elm Park site Spending on the new National Maternity Hospital will be examined as part of an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. […]

It is unacceptable that a postcode lottery still exists around the country The relaxation of restrictions for partners of pregnant women at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) is a positive step that should be followed by other hospitals nationwide, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. “The NMH has said it will allow unrestricted visiting […]

Has Nphet been consulted about the proposed revision to the guidelines? The government has sacrificed its own public health guidelines in an effort to save Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s political skin, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The government spent weeks in negotiations with the hospitality industry, about the rules that should apply to their […]

Even government ministers are confused – and it is their plan The government is rushing through legislation to reopen hospitality in a complete information vacuum, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The Health Committee had a briefing this morning and members were more confused afterwards than they had been before. This is no reflection […]

We are now facing a fourth wave of Covid-19 and lessons must be learned from the previous three There must be a full public inquiry into what happened in our nursing homes during the pandemic, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. Deputy Shortall was responding to an RTE Investigates programme on care in nursing […]

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]We urgently need clarity on Nphet’s figures and their projections The government’s plans to reopen the country are unworkable, unenforceable and raise serious legal and ethical issues, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In his address today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government wanted to reopen the […]