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Last-minute government amendments have resulted in a Mental Health Bill that now lacks crucial human rights safeguards in favour of a retrograde model of service provision for people with acute mental health difficulties, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “Some government […]

The Labour Court decision to extend a payment for healthcare workers with debilitating Long Covid until December 2025 is a welcome one, but more must be done, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, a former clinical psychologist with Long Covid services. Deputy Quaide said: “The government must recognise Long Covid as an occupational illness […]

The costly employment of agency staff across the health system, including in mental health services, reflects a deep failure in workforce planning by successive governments, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “Figures released to me by the HSE showed that the […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has accused the HSE of attempting to conceal the scale of the crisis in primary care psychology services. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “I am deeply frustrated with the unanswered or partly answered parliamentary questions on this matter. The responses I received indicate a […]

The government decision to end a payment for healthcare workers with debilitating Long Covid is an abandonment of staff who gave their all during the height of the pandemic, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, who previously worked as a clinical psychologist with Long Covid services. Deputy Quaide said: “159 healthcare workers with Long […]

The government must reflect on the use of biometric facial scans by State bodies following the €550,000 fine handed down to the Department of Social Protection by the Data Protection Commission (DPC), according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on social protection, said: “It has today been confirmed […]

Government proposals could undermine children’s disability assessments and result in the misdiagnosis of their conditions, Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has warned. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “When recently pressed on the crisis in disability services, the Taoiseach’s main proposal was a change in legislation to reduce the length of […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has expressed concern after the Department of Education Inspectorate found issues with almost all admission policies used by a selection of mainstream schools to determine entry to additional needs classes. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “There are clear issues highlighted in this review – which […]

It is extremely concerning that the author of the Grace report failed to include any reference to legal submissions filed by Grace’s legal team in her final report, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s disability spokesperson, said: “Grace’s whole life has been marked by failure by the State […]

Those presenting to emergency departments with mental health issues, including children, are left waiting for their conditions to deteriorate, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who’s the party’s mental health spokesperson, said: “Today’s Mental Health Commission report highlights a broken system of emergency mental health care for our most distressed service-users. “Successive […]