News

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 […]

Survey highlights long waiting lists and raises questions about standard of mental health services for children and adolescents Today’s report from the Ombudsman for Children paints a worrying picture of mental health services for children and teenagers in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Children, […]

Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy to be debated in the Dáil today  The Government must expedite legislation to end the legal limbo faced by couples and individuals who enter into international surrogacy, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who chaired the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, will introduce the […]

Oireachtas Health Committee is the most appropriate forum to analyse review group’s report on abortion services Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has described comments by the Taoiseach on the review group’s report on abortion services as deeply unhelpful. “The health and wellbeing of women must be front and centre of any recommendations to make legislative […]

The Tánaiste should tell us whose version of events he believes – Mr Watt’s or his officials The Tánaiste must address the clear contradictions in the accounts of the secretary general of the Department Of Health, Robert Watt, and his senior officials on the circumstances surrounding the botched secondment of Dr Tony Holohan to Trinity […]