News

Slashing building standards and undermining the planning process has not fixed the housing market. All it has achieved is greater dysfunction. Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall today introduced a Private Members Bill to the Dáil to overhaul planning laws which have become a developers’ charter under successive Ministers. “Planning laws have become a developer’s charter […]

The SHD process has been a success at only one thing – boosting the value of developers’ sites, not housing stock Planning laws have become a developers’ charter thanks to the intervention of successive Ministers, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisin Shortall, who has published legislation to restore quality and democracy to the planning process. […]

The current state of Irish banking is a consumer nightmare Competition in the Irish banking market will soon be almost non-existent, according to Social Democrats co-leader, and Finance Spokesperson, Róisín Shortall. “KBC has today confirmed its intention to quit the Irish market. This news will be a source of great alarm to both its staff […]

Our economic recovery must not be a two-tier recovery, in which those most impacted by the pandemic are left behind.  Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall has said the finding of the Stability Programme Update – that Ireland’s economic recovery is contingent on the successful rollout of the vaccination programme – is a reminder that vaccines […]

The Irish people deserve competence and efficiency from their government at a time of national crisis. Instead, they have chaos and confusion. The government’s mandatory quarantine system has descended into chaos less than three weeks after it was set up, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Last night, the government’s mandatory quarantine system had […]

Commenting on NIAC’s expected recommendation to restrict the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over-60s, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said: “NIAC’s advice must be taken on board in the interest of public health. To ensure confidence in the vaccination programme, it is vital that safety concerns are addressed as they […]

Speaking in the Dáil today, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has raised four key concerns about the vaccination programme in relation to the capability to scale-up, queue jumping, speed of rollout for very high and high-risk individuals, and the changes to the vaccine priority list. She said: “The vaccination programme has the potential to […]

Responding to the Taoiseach’s announcement of the easing of lockdown restrictions, co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall TD, has said: “It’s surprising that the Taoiseach has this evening set out a phased easing of restrictions based on dates, given that the Government’s previous plan emphasised that any change would be based on data instead. […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has spoken out strongly against the news today that the Beacon Hospital gave 20 surplus vaccines to teachers in a nearby private school. She said: “What happened this week at the Beacon is completely unacceptable. The hospital ignored the sequencing protocol in favour of passing on the surplus vaccines […]

Responding to the RTÉ Investigates report that revealed the Department of Health had gathered sensitive and confidential information about families taking cases against it, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called for the Secretary General and the Health Minister to appear before the Health Committee and Dáil respectively to answer questions. Deputy Shortall commented: […]

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has welcomed the result of the EMA rapid review of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has shown it to be safe and effective. She commented: “It is a welcome reassurance that the EMA has come to a clear and definitive conclusion that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective. “It […]

Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has welcomed the resignation of the three senior executives from Davy today, describing it as a “starting point”. However, she has pointed out that a number of unanswered questions remain. Commenting, Deputy Shortall said: “The resignations of three senior executives from Davy today are welcome as a starting […]

During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, asked the Taoiseach to publish daily figures for vaccine doses received, doses available, and doses administered, so that the performance of the vaccine rollout can be measured against projections. She said: “Vaccines provide great hope to people, and the public […]

Commenting on the news that Bank of Ireland will start a programme of branch closures in September, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said: “The closures announced this morning represent more bad news for Irish banking. Bank branches are an important focal point in many communities. The closure of the branches will further sever the […]