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Last-minute government amendments and an unwillingness to accept any opposition amendments have undermined years of important work on the Mental Health Bill, according to Social Democrats Mental Health and Disability spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “Some government amendments, introduced on deadline day for submissions at Committee Stage, have significantly altered the human rights ethos […]

The government must commit to a comprehensive recruitment drive to tackle 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: “Figures released to me reveal the abject state of primary care services for young people […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

“The ‘Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan’ is heavy on aspiration but thin on clear, concrete resource allocations, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, the party’s Mental Health spokesperson, said: “The plan’s emphasis on trauma-informed service delivery is positive but there is no detail provided on what this means in practice, or any […]

The Government must urgently address the failings in the homelessness system highlighted in a joint report launched today by Depaul and Mental Health Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said: “The report, entitled ‘Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Mental Health and Homelessness Through Integrated […]

The Social Democrats today published proposals to address chronic underinvestment by successive governments in mental health services in Ireland. The party’s mental health policy was launched by Cllr Liam Quaide, Cork East general election candidate and clinical psychologist. The document outlines how, in government, the Social Democrats will set a pathway towards allocating 10 per […]