Social Democrats won’t make Stephen Donnelly sole leader
That is according to Roisin Shortall, who is joint leader with Mr Donnelly and Catherine Murphy of the new party.
The former Labour Party stalwart said the new party, launched last July, got a boost from a great performance by fellow joint leader, Stephen Donnelly. But she said there was no plan to change the system of sharing the leadership between the three of them.
Mr Donnelly is perceived as performing very well during the seven-way leaders’ debate on Monday night at the University of Limerick.
Ms Shortall insisted the general election is “wide open” and any coalition combination could emerge from the vote on February 26.
She was speaking at the launch of the Social Democrats proposal to build an Irish National Health Service (NHS).
For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE
This means “a publicly funded health service that would be accessible to all, improve health outcomes and reduce the cost to deliver high-quality healthcare”, they said.
The party said its plan would take at least 10 years to implement but would involve three phases.
The first phase would see a re-orientation of the health service by switching activity and care away from acute hospitals and into the community.
The second phase would involve the provision of universal access to primary and community healthcare services.
The final phase would see the end of the current two-tier hospital service by raising the standard of our public hospital service in terms of access and quality.
The party’s plan is to save up to €100m per year on drugs — and ease the burden on hospitals by more efficient community care services.
Ms Shortall said a patient with chronic diabetes would cost €150 to be treated at a hospital clinic. This compared with €50 at a local GP or €20 for a practice nurse.
The party will be urging all political parties to sign up to 10 principles on framing a new national health service. She said cross-party support its their NHS after World War II.
Asked about coalition options after the election on February 26, Ms Shortall agreed that a mosaic coalition involving diverse parties and groups was a possibility. This happened in 1948 when the first Inter-Party Government was formed.
“This election is wide open — that is what I would say. Anything is possible,” Ms Shortall said.
But she refused to say how her party would respond to overtures from her old colleagues in Labour. Or, whether ideological differences could be bridged with Lucinda Creighton’s Renua Ireland.
Ms Shortall stated that the party is committed to repealing the Eighth Amendment, and supports the concept of the People’s Convention.
The Dublin North West TD was also asked about her abstention on the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Ms Shortall said she abstained from the vote because she felt there were flaws in the legislation.
She said the lack of term limits in the new laws were problematic.
For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
