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€64m proposal for St. Stephen’s Hospital, Cork, will deny residents the right to community living

The HSE’s proposal to invest €64m developing a 50-bed residential mental health service on the grounds of St. Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire, is an attempt to move back to the dark ages of service provision, according to Social Democrats mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “It is entirely at odds with the progressive trend […]

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Minister for Health must accept recommendations to prevent overreliance on insourcing and outsourcing

Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice has welcomed the publication of the HSE’s review of insourcing and outsourcing in the health service. Deputy Rice, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “Ahead of this morning’s Health Committee sitting, the Minister for Health published the HSE’s review of insourcing and outsourcing, which identified serious […]

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Delay of essential alcohol labelling measure would be a retrograde step for public health

It’s outrageous that the government is willing to sacrifice an essential public health measure to keep the alcohol industry happy, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “It is unacceptable that alcohol labelling has officially been put on the back burner – sacrificing public health measures in favour of appeasing the alcohol […]

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Minister must address glaring gaps in new National Sexual Health Strategy

The long overdue publication of the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035, while welcome, contains some glaring gaps that the Minister must address, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “The last strategy, which covered 2015-2020, was understandably extended until the end of 2022 as […]

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CHI’s responses at Health Committee completely inadequate

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has described today’s responses from CHI at the Oireachtas Health Committee as deeply disappointing and completely inadequate. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson and chair of the Health Committee, said: “From what we heard this morning, it would seem that some in CHI still do not appreciate the […]

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CHI’s summary of internal review tells us little we didn’t already know

Today’s publication of a summary of findings and recommendations into a 2022 examination of a clinical department in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) does not provide a level of detail sufficient to serve the public interest, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “CHI’s internal review […]

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RTÉ exposé on nursing homes must be a catalyst for change

The shocking treatment and neglect of elderly residents in two private nursing homes, as highlighted by RTÉ Investigates tonight, must be a catalyst for change, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “It was difficult at times to watch the harrowing footage broadcast this evening. Such appalling breaches are the result […]

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