News

On foot of Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy’s warning of a “significant feud” in Ballymun, TD for the area Róisín Shortall has hit out at the shocking drop in the number of Gardaí stationed in Ballymun. Figures released to Deputy Shortall have revealed the number of sergeants in the area has been halved, from 24 at […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to appoint a new head of the HSE on an interim basis – and to only fill the post permanently once key accountability reforms are carried out. Deputy Shortall said: “At the heart of the Cervical Check crisis is a lack of […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to relieve Mr Thomas Lynch of his chairmanship of Irish hospital boards, saying his public-sector positions are incompatible with his extensive involvement in big pharma and medical supplies companies and his private fundraising efforts for the Taoiseach. Deputy Shortall said: “Mr Lynch […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has accused the Minister for Health Simon Harris of showing extremely poor judgment in allowing serving HSE Director General Tony O’Brien to take up a remunerated position on the board of a US medical supplies company. Deputy Shortall said: “It is entirely inappropriate that the head of the HSE […]

WITH NEW EU-WIDE data protection laws on the way, there has been a lot of discussion about the digital age of consent, but not a lot of clarity on what it actually is. Despite what you may have heard, it’s not about putting age restrictions on access to the internet, or limiting young people’s expression […]

The Social Democrats are seeking cross party support for legal changes to ban the commercial monetisation of the digital data of children and teens under the age of 18. The party is today tabling amendments to the government’s Data Protection Bill 2018 to prohibit the use of children’s data for marketing purposes. The party’s co-leader […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has said immediate steps must be taken to make sure that people affected by the CervicalCheck controversy receive prompt and appropriate treatment and supports, and to guarantee that there is full accountability for mishandling of diagnosis cases. Deputy Shortall said: “I welcome the proposed setting up of an independent […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to intervene to make sure that all 206 women whose smear tests have shown they have cervical cancer are notified immediately. Deputy Shortall said: “It beggars belief that no lessons appear to have been learned out of the tragedy of Vicky Phelan’s […]

The Social Democrats today publish reform proposals to make lobbying activities more open and government decisions more accountable. The initiative is in direct response to the recent controversy over highly inappropriate contacts between Communications Minister Denis Naughten and a professional lobbyist for Independent News and Media in relation to the company’s proposed takeover of Celtic […]

The Social Democrats have said the government must restore capitation rates for primary schools in this year’s Budget to ease the unsustainable burden on parents of subsidising the State’s ‘free education’. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD made the call following reports today of analysis by Grant Thornton which shows that parents are forking out […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has accused the government of betraying people with disabilities by denying them the right to bring complaints under an important UN Convention which comes into force in Ireland today. Deputy Shortall was speaking at a protest outside Leinster House this morning to mark the fact that the UN Convention […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has taken serious issue with the government’s refusal to outlaw the repugnant practice of harvesting children’s data for marketing purposes by large companies including Facebook. Deputy Shortall criticised the government’s Data Protection Bill 2018, which is currently before the Oireachtas, for failing to include robust restrictions on how companies […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Government to wake up to the crisis in General Practice and set out a timetable to reverse austerity cuts which are harming GP practices and patients. Deputy Shortall made her comments as major differences have emerged between the State and doctors over the scale of […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has expressed incredulity at the findings of the review into the Department of Justice’s failure to forward key documents to the Charleton Tribunal. Deputy Shortall said: “The review carried out by Senior Counsel Michael Collins shows an alarming degree of incompetence and laxity within the Department in its handling […]