Shortall exit could be cure that kills

RÓISÍN Shortall’s explosive exit from Labour has far more potential to destabilise the Coalition than her slow-motion resignation as junior health minister.

Ms Shortall’s supporters insist Eamon Gilmore moved to cut her loose following her incendiary contribution to last week’s Dáil debate on whether James Reilly was fit for high office.

Her terse four-minute speech — effectively a four-minute warning of the bust-up to come — bristled with frustration at the slow pace of health service reform under Dr Reilly.