News

Government must immediately re-engage with Section 39 workers’ unions and end two-tier pay system Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has spoken out in support of Section 39 workers in community and voluntary sector organisations who are to commence indefinite strike action from Tuesday, October 17. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: […]

It is extraordinary that the Health Minister has opted to remain overseas while this crisis is escalating Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall has written to the Health Committee requesting that representatives of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE attend an emergency meeting of the Committee tomorrow. Deputy Shortall said: “Health Minister Stephen Donnelly […]

“The guiding principle that has always informed my work is that healthcare is a human right – not a commodity” Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall has received the inaugural Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award from the Centre for Health Policy and Management at Trinity College Dublin. The Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award recognises the […]

Desperate parents forced to leave children behind in hospitals, special schools and residential centres due to lack of State supports A new report showing that children with complex disabilities are being denied the right to grow up at home with their families should be a source of deep shame and embarrassment for the Government, according […]

More than 4,000 children and adolescents waiting to access mental health services across all nine CHOs The publication of individual reports for each of the nine Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) provides further insights into the level of dysfunction within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, […]

Minister for Health unable to provide details of new completion date or an estimate of final costs for troubled development The Minister for Health’s inability to provide a revised completion date or estimate of final costs for the new National Children’s Hospital shows that the Government has lost control of the project, according to Social […]

Children and adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties are being failed by the State Today’s damning report into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) must be a catalyst for fundamental change in how the HSE operates, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The independent review of CAMHS by Dr Susan Finnerty, the Inspector […]

Legislation underpinning assisted human reproduction is still not in place Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has called for additional funding to be allocated in next year’s Budget so that the eligibility criteria for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment can be widened. “Today’s announcement that publicly funded assisted human reproduction will commence from September is […]

There are now more than 6,000 older people approved for homecare left languishing on waiting lists  The Government’s announcement of increased pay rates for those working in State-funded home support services has been described as deeply cynical by Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, indicated […]

Government must now fast-track safeguarding legislation for vulnerable adults  The catastrophic failure to investigate sexual assault complaints in a HSE nursing home must mark a turning point in how the State safeguards vulnerable adults, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The report by the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP), which was set up […]

HSE has failed to reduce unacceptably long waiting lists The sharp rise in the numbers of children awaiting an assessment of need has been described as utterly unacceptable by Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The latest figures provided to me by the HSE are truly shocking. In the first quarter of this year, 4,206 […]

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental illnesses, yet vital services continue to be under-funded by the Government  Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has called on the Minister for Mental Health and the HSE to explain why no funding has been allocated this year for public specialist eating disorder services. “I was greatly alarmed to […]

Oral health has been completely neglected by the Minister since he took office The Government is continuing to sleepwalk through a crisis in dental healthcare, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Oral health has been completely neglected by the Minister for Health since he took office. At a time when the Minister should […]

Lack of funding has thrown pay deal into disarray  Serious questions must be asked about why the HSE has reneged on a deal to increase payments to home care providers and protect service provision, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The HSE is currently attempting to redesign work patterns across the health service […]