Shortall resignation "a warning" to Fine Gael - Penrose

Westmeath TD Willie Penrose has described Róisín Shortall's resignation as "a warning shot" to the Government and to Fine Gael in particular. Ms Shortall yesterday resigned as Minister of State at the Department of Health, saying she could no longer continue in the role because of a "lack of support for the reforms in the programme for government and the values that underpin it." Deputy Penrose, who himself resigned as a Labour party Minister of State last year, over the closure of Columb Barracks in Mullingar, discussed Ms Shortall's decision on Midlands 103 this morning. "This is a warning shot across the bows of Government, and especially to the Fine Gael element therein, that we are not there to be walked upon or to roll over," he said. "We're sent there with a particular ethos, negotiated in good faith, in a programme that we want to see implemented. We're not there to roll over and if there's arrogance on behalf ofanybody in Government then that can certainly lead to very extreme difficulties."