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The priorities for our health service in Budget 2026 are completely askew, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is Chair of the Oireacthas Health Committee, said: “In the Health Minister’s quest for productivity and value for money, she has lost sight of reform. “She seems to forget that without reform […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has accused Minister Darragh O’Brien of playing a reckless game of chicken with the EU by downplaying the risk of billions in fines if Ireland fails to hit its climate action targets. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “Earlier this year, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) […]

Supplementary legislation must ensure no family is left behind when it comes to assisted human reproduction, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who today will launch a report on the matter as Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “The journey towards robust legislation to regulate and support donor assisted human […]

The Minister for Health must progress the option of building a Model 3 hospital in the Mid-West following the completion of a HIQA review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the region, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “I welcome that this review has […]

The inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida care in Children’s Health Ireland must be more than a box ticking exercise which results in a report devoid of solutions, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “I welcome the government’s commitment to hold this public inquiry into CHI, however, it must be […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice will introduce a Bill today to close a loophole in the law that allows the drinks industry to circumvent restrictions on alcohol advertising when it comes to 0.0 products. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 was a landmark piece of […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has described confirmation that Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is to be integrated into the HSE by 2027 as an inevitable consequence of the organisation’s litany of failures. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “This is welcome news, but hardly a surprising development given the succession of controversies […]

The Minister for Health must take some share of responsibility for the latest delay to the National Children’s Hospital, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “When questioned earlier today on when the new hospital would open, Minister Carroll Mac Neill flippantly suggested that people should […]

The full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey Morrison Sherratt must be completed and provided to his family as a matter of urgency, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Speaking ahead of next weekend’s demonstration march in Dublin in memory of the nine-year-old, who had spina bifida and scoliosis […]

Sláintecare must not be neglected in the revised National Development Plan (NDP), according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Sláintecare cannot be allowed to become a sacrificial lamb in the revised NDP, due to be published next week. “While there should absolutely be a clear focus […]