News

The Tánaiste should tell us whose version of events he believes – Mr Watt’s or his officials The Tánaiste must address the clear contradictions in the accounts of the secretary general of the Department Of Health, Robert Watt, and his senior officials on the circumstances surrounding the botched secondment of Dr Tony Holohan to Trinity […]

It is unacceptable that we are learning about these major deficiencies in our abortion service via leaks to the media Health Minister Stephen Donnelly must immediately publish a review into abortion services which has found it could “collapse” at any moment, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “A leaked copy of a review […]

Health Committee backs Deputy Shortall’s proposal to follow WHO policy in respect of the availability of contraception The Minister for Health should mark International Women’s Day by allowing pharmacists to dispense prescription-free oral contraceptives, according to Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall. “At today’s Oireachtas Health Committee, representatives of the Irish Pharmacy Union made a compelling […]

Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy have issued a joint statement following yesterday’s announcement that they are to step aside as co-leaders of the Social Democrats. The party’s National Executive will meet this evening (Thursday, February 23) to make arrangements for the election of a new leader. Both Catherine and Róisín fully intend to remain active […]

It is time that the Government stopped wringing their hands about dysfunction within the health service and actually did something about it A damning report by the Mental Health Commission has revealed that the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is failing children across the country, according to Social Democrats Health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. […]

It would be bizarre and grotesque for reform to be further delayed because the Minister overseeing SIPO was the subject of an investigation Long overdue reform of our ethics legislation must not be further delayed by the controversy that has engulfed Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Minister […]

At any one time, around 600 patients are left in hospital because there isn’t appropriate home care supports or step-down facilities available  The Government must urgently address the lack of home care services, according to Social Democrats co-leader and Health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “While it’s welcome that the HSE and the Minister for Health are […]

Government must provide realistic alternatives to attending emergency departments The Government’s failure to adequately plan for a winter surge in hospital admissions has resulted in the current crisis in our emergency departments, according to Social Democrats co-leader and Health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “We have known for some months that there would be an upsurge in […]

As Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe prepares to leave office, his biggest priority is rewarding bankers The government’s plans to restore bankers’ bonuses are an insult to the millions of workers who have seen their wages fall because of the cost of living crisis, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “As Finance Minister Paschal […]

The Minister must make the enactment of this Bill a priority The government must quickly move to ensure that a policy of open disclosure becomes mandatory within the health service, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. Deputy Shortall was commenting after the publication of the final report of Dr. Gabriel Scally into the […]

Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall have announced that Independent Waterford Councillor Mary Roche is joining the party. Deputies Murphy and Shortall travelled to Waterford today to meet Cllr Roche and make the announcement. Cllr Roche said: “I have long admired the work of the Social Democrats and their co-leaders Catherine Murphy and […]

What mattered most to Vicky was not rhetoric but action The nation is united in mourning the sad passing of Vicky Phelan, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The entire nation is united in mourning after the very sad passing of Vicky Phelan. “Vicky was instrumental in uncovering the CervicalCheck scandal. Her refusal to […]

SIPO is currently more lapdog than watchdog The decision of the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) not to investigate the Tánaiste’s leaking of a draft contract to a friend in 2019 is further evidence that the watchdog needs more teeth, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “The Tánaiste has maintained that he leaked […]

Vital service to end next month due to lack of HSE funding  The imminent closure of the Mater Hospital’s Long Covid Clinic represents a new low in the Government’s pandemic response, according to the Social Democrats’ co-leader and Health spokesperson, Róisín Shortall. “This morning, the Mater’s Long Covid Clinic was instructed to wind down its […]