News

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 […]

The Government’s publication of a green list of countries last night has done nothing to clear up widespread public confusion on the issue of foreign travel, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Shortall said: “It has now emerged there were conflicting views within the Cabinet about the merit of publishing […]

The long overdue publication of a green list of 15 countries is meaningless and likely to add to public confusion about the public health message from NPHET not to undertake non-essential foreign travel, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Deputy Shortall said: “The publication of the green list brings no real […]

Criticising the absence of a coherent Government strategy on tackling the potential importation of coronavirus, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD called on the Taoiseach to follow the advice of NPHET and deal comprehensively with inward travel. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Róisín Shortall TD said: “The Taoiseach has not dispelled the huge […]

The Social Democrats have today announced spokesperson roles for the 33rd Dáil. Co-leader Catherine Murphy said: “In announcing our spokesperson roles today, I am confirming that the Social Democrats will continue to work as we did in the last Dáil – by being constructive and practical but also by not being afraid to ask the tough […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, believes that Ireland needs to learn from the success of New Zealand in combatting the spread of Covid-19. Deputy Shortall said: “The Government needs to follow the clear advice of the CMO and leading public health experts, such as Professor Gabriel Scally, who said over the weekend […]

The Social Democrats are this weekend marking their 5th anniversary, and the rapid growth of the Party since 2015. Co-leader, Róisín Shortall TD, said: “It has been an extraordinary first five years. We now have 24 public representatives and a party full of members with ambition, passion and a huge appetite to build on very […]

Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to clarify his comments made in the Dáil today that, “People coming into the island for any reason are being asked to restrict their movements, not self-isolate or quarantine, for 14 days.” Deputy Shortall said, “There has been considerable […]