Meet Róisín

Róisín Shortall is a co-founder of the Social Democrats and a TD for Dublin North-West.

She has been re-elected at every general election since first winning a Dáil seat in 1992, giving her over 30 years’ experience in national politics.

A former primary school teacher with a degree in Economics and Politics, Róisín has throughout her career been particularly vocal on social justice issues, in all its forms, and good governance.

She is a former Minister of State at the Department of Health and chaired the All-Party Committee on the Future of Healthcare which produced the Sláintecare reform plan for the Irish health service.

Róisín is passionate about accountability and fair distribution of resources.

Healthcare is a human right – not a commodity. Healthcare should be equally accessible and free at the point of access, not dependant on your ability to pay.

Róisín’s Priorities

  • Ensure the full implementation of Sláintecare.
  • Establish universal access to quality public services based on fair taxation.
  • End child poverty.
  • Drive down the cost of housing.
  • Reverse the creeping privatisation of health and social care services.
  • Establish a statutory right to homecare.
  • Increase capacity of primary care including all essential therapies.
  • Introduce the Living Wage.

Latest News

Sale of Beacon Hospital a missed opportunity for the Government

The sale of the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin represents a missed opportunity for the Government to deliver on a key Sláintecare commitment, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “It emerged this week that a deal has been reached to sell the Beacon Hospital to the asset management wing of the Australian owned […]

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Oxfam report highlights need for renewed debate on wealth tax

The findings of an Oxfam report into global inequality presents an opportunity for a renewed debate on the need for a wealth tax in Ireland, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Oxfam’s report, which has been released as political leaders gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, makes for stark […]

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Government in denial over impact of health service underfunding on patient care

The Government continues to be in denial about the impact of health service underfunding on patient care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Reports in the media today of Paschal Donohoe’s trenchant criticisms of financial management at the Health Department and the HSE are further evidence that the Government deliberately underfunded the health service […]

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