News

Why is the Minister continuing to give experts and patient advocates the cold shoulder?  The Minister for Health must explain why he’s ignored repeated calls to fund the Mater’s Long Covid Clinic, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The Mater’s clinic is the longest running Long Covid clinic in Ireland and yet it’s […]

One-off €500 disability payment smacks of token gesture Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has criticised the Government for failing to address the cost of having a disability in Budget 2023. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s Disability spokesperson, said: “As recently as July, the Government passed my motion calling for an increase in the Disability […]

Social Democrats propose weekly Cost of Disability payment People with disabilities could receive up to €50 a week extra under pre-budget proposals put forward by the Social Democrats. Holly Cairns TD, the party’s spokesperson on Disability, said: “Despite improvements in funding in recent years, the experience of many disabled people in Ireland continues to be […]

Community-based midwives’ views need to be taken on board by HSE  The Minister for Health must urgently intervene to ensure continued access to home birth services for women living in rural communities, according to Holly Cairns TD. Deputy Cairns, who represents Cork South-West, said: “A recommendation by the HSE to exclude large swathes of my […]

The snail’s pace of decongregation cannot continue A new report from HIQA has highlighted the need to speed up the transfer of people with disabilities from congregated settings, according to Social Democrats Disability Spokesperson Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns was commenting following the publication by HIQA today of an overview of its inspection and regulation of […]

If we ever want to fill the vacancies in our health service, then NCHDs must be treated with respect and dignity at work The Minister for Health has been repeatedly warned that unreliable pay is a serious issue for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) but has failed to act, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín […]

The lack of urgency is deeply worrying The Minister for Health must clarify when the monkeypox vaccination programme will be rolled out, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Last week, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced that a monkeypox vaccination programme, targeted at individuals at high risk, would be rolled out. However, there is […]

It is not acceptable that abortion care is still based on a postcode lottery A new report which finds Ireland’s abortion law is traumatising women underscores the need for urgent reform, according to Social Democrats Social Justice Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “A new study from Trinity College, the Unplanned Pregnancy and Abortion Care (UnPAC) study, found […]

We cannot allow a situation to develop in which developmental assessments for babies are based on a postcode lottery The HSE must explain why developmental assessments for babies and children, from three months to 48 months, have been withdrawn in Dublin West, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “It has come to my […]

The Government must put in place the necessary funding to progress a vital local disability service for Swords and North County Dublin, according to Social Democrats Fingal Councillor Paul Mulville.  “The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) has plans to develop a purpose built day building providing services for adults and children with disabilities, on North Street, […]

Mr Reid has joined the exodus of senior health officials who have also recently announced their resignations The abrupt resignation of HSE chief executive Paul Reid raises serious questions for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In the first instance, I would like to wish Mr Reid well in […]

Why is there such an unseemly rush to push this deal through cabinet?  The cabinet must not sign off on the national maternity hospital deal tomorrow when a number of significant questions remain unanswered, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The legal documents underpinning the State’s biggest ever investment in women’s healthcare were […]

There have now been a number of high profile resignations during Health Minster Stephen Donnelly’s tenure in office It is a huge loss to the public service that the two people who chiefly led the public health response to the pandemic have now resigned, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Outgoing deputy chief […]

We have seen, with the reported imminent overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, that rights, once secured, must continue to be fought and advocated for The government cannot sign off on the proposed new national maternity hospital deal while its terms are still shrouded in mystery, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson […]