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The government has apparently pledged €3.69 billon to implement this plan, but that figure is not mentioned anywhere in the report The government’s Sláintecare implementation plan contains a number of positive commitments – but fails to provide a detailed timeline or breakdown of the budget, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisin Shortall. “It is four […]

Having a baby should be a joyful experience and instead it is being turned into something distressing and stressful by these intransigent rules It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that continued restrictions on partners at maternity hospitals are anything other than misogynistic and cruel, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns said: “It […]

Reports that the Minister for Health tried to exempt the National Maternity Hospital from spending rules for large capital projects are deeply alarming, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Concerns over the National Maternity Hospital are now mounting on two fronts: 1) the ownership and ethos of the new hospital, and 2) the Minister’s […]

Fundamental questions about patient confidentiality, consent, the HSE’s use of power as an employer and data protection remain to be answered by the Department of Health. The appearance of the General Secretary of the Department of Health, Robert Watt, at the Oireachtas Health Committee has raised more questions than answers, according to Social Democrats Health […]

The crucial thing is that we want businesses, when they open, to remain open. As the country prepares to reopen, the government must do everything in its power to ensure there is no return to lockdown, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Today is a positive day and there are many reasons to be […]

It is essential, in the interests of Irish women now and in the future, that the national maternity hospital is fully State owned and free of religious control and influence A new cross-party group has been established, by Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall, to advocate for full public ownership of the new national maternity hospital […]

Future generations will wonder why, when vaccines for covid had been developed, did Western governments facilitate the deaths of so many people in developing countries. Ireland and the international community need to assist India with vital supplies of medicine and oxygen to prevent an unfolding human tragedy, according to Social Democrats TD, and Foreign Affairs […]

Serial testing, antigen testing and rapid test-and-trace must be utilised to the greatest extent possible Social Democrats co-leader, and Kildare North TD, Catherine Murphy has expressed concern at reports of an outbreak of 70 covid cases at the Intel site in Leixlip. Deputy Murphy said: “I have been assured the company is working with public […]

There are just two public toilets in Dublin city centre – this is clearly an untenable situation for the summer months The OPW should open its public buildings to increase the provision of restroom facilities in Dublin city centre, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon TD. Deputy Gannon stated: “The inadequate provision of public […]

The Irish people deserve competence and efficiency from their government at a time of national crisis. Instead, they have chaos and confusion. The government’s mandatory quarantine system has descended into chaos less than three weeks after it was set up, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “Last night, the government’s mandatory quarantine system had […]