Róisín Shortall is a Social Democrats T.D. for Dublin North West. She was first elected to the Dáil in 1992 and was re-elected at every election since.
Róisín represents the area stretching from Beaumont in the east, to Whitehall, Santry, Drumcondra, Glasnevin, Ballymun, Meakstown and Finglas to the west.
Born and reared in Drumcondra (St. Alphonsus Road), Róisín attended Dominican College, Eccles Street and then UCD where she graduated with a B.A. in Economics and Politics. She later qualified as a Primary School teacher in St. Mary’s College of Education, Marino. She taught in St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf in Cabra for a number of years prior to entering politics. Since 1980, Róisín has lived in Gaeltacht Park in Whitehall with her husband Seamus. They have three daughters.
Róisín has, throughout her time in the Dáil, been Labour Party spokesperson on Justice, Health, Children, Education, Transport and Social Protection. She is particularly vocal on issues such as social justice, pensions, health-care, taxation, addiction, and probity. Róisín was also a prominent member of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee where she tackled wasteful spending in FÁS, the HSE, and many other State bodies. In March 2011, Róisín was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Primary Care. She resigned this position in September 2012 due to significant policy differences. She also resigned from the Parliamentary Labour Party.
In July 2015, Róisín co-founded a new political party, called the Social Democrats, which she currently leads along with fellow T.D. Catherine Murphy.
