Shortall’s shock exit

Róisín Shortall has dramatically resigned as junior health minister and aimed a clear shot at Labour leader Eamon Gilmore for failing to support healthcare reforms.

The opposition claimed the wrong person had resigned, and that it was Health Minister James Reilly who should have gone because of the “chaos” he had overseen in the health services.

However, Ms Shortall’s resignation will likely ease the pressure on Dr Reilly — at least in the short-term — after their very public rows on primary care centres had threatened to engulf him.