Shortall was first elected to the Dáil in 1992 as a Labour Party TD. She has been re-elected at every general election since. She was an Independent TD from 2012 to 2015 until she launched the Social Democrats party with two other TDs. She is a former Minister of State for Health. Prior to her career in politics, she was a primary school teacher and she has a degree in economics and politics.

People deserve a future where they can rely on good quality public services that improve their quality of life... They deserve honest politicians who are transparent and held to account... My track record in national politics shows that I am committed to real action for people in Ireland.

Improving public services for everybody is vital for Dublin North-West - this includes housing, health, and transport. In particular, we need a much greater focus on delivering more affordable housing and creating sustainable communities.

People in Ireland have a right to the kind of high-quality, universal health care that our European counterparts have enjoyed for decades... We need to fully implement Sláintecare to ensure timely access to health care for all.