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Urgent need for regulation of nicotine pouches

The government must urgently regulate the sale and marketing of nicotine pouches, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Nicotine pouches are increasingly being used by teenagers across the country – they’re cheap, flavoured, and aggressively marketed to children. “The product is widely available in corner shops with no age restrictions, packaging […]

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Integration of CHI into HSE an inevitable consequence of organisation’s failings

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 […]

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Minister cannot deflect blame for latest delay to National Children’s Hospital

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 […]

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Government failure to regulate nicotine pouches poses a threat to children’s health and wellbeing

Nicotine pouches should be viewed as a gateway to lifelong nicotine dependency The government’s failure to regulate the sale of nicotine pouches poses an ongoing threat to children’s health and wellbeing, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. “Today, the Irish Cancer society has highlighted that popular festivals – like Electric Picnic – are partnering with […]

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Family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt deserve urgent answers from government

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 […]

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Government continues to be in denial about scale of crisis in primary care services for young people

Lack of workforce planning and the HSE’s failure to initiate a comprehensive recruitment drive is exacerbating the crisis in primary care services for young people, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “This government continues to be in denial about the scale […]

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Government have bottled it on alcohol labelling

The decision to defer health labelling on alcoholic drinks has all of the hallmarks of industry lobbying taking precedence over public health concerns, according to Social Democrats Enterprise spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “This government had committed to introducing health labelling on alcoholic drinks next year – but that promise has now been broken. […]

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Cancer services deteriorating under the watch of this government

The gaps in cancer care are a result of lessening government commitment to the National Cancer Strategy, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “Today’s Irish Cancer Society report shows a postcode lottery exists for patients trying to access vital cancer care – receiving treatment for a serious illness should never […]

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