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Meet Liam

I’m Liam Quaide, the Social Democrats TD for Cork East. I previously was a Councillor with the East Cork Municipal District since 2019.

I am also a clinical psychologist and have worked for many years with Community Adult Mental Health teams, and more recently in hospital outpatient services. After becoming a parent I was drawn to politics by the urgency of the climate crisis, and I strongly believe that environmental action and social justice need to go hand in hand.

Since becoming a Councillor, I led a successful campaign to restore community residential services for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. This has resulted in a multi-million Euro commitment by the HSE in East Cork, which will allow people with the highest level of need to live in their community.

I have campaigned for stronger measures to address vacancy and dereliction, higher quality public transport and greater protection for trees and hedgerows. I believe that disability services for young people and adults are in need of major investment and reform.

Prior to entering politics, my values and priorities were reinforced by voluntary work with Amnesty Ireland and the Samaritans.

Politics for me is about giving a voice and giving power to people in our society who feel left behind or disregarded. It is about protecting nature, and strengthening our communities and our economy.

Liam’s Priorities

  • Affordable housing and stronger tenancy rights.
  • High quality, accessible and accountable mental health and disability services.
  • Climate action that enriches farming, improves air quality and increases our energy security.
  • Protection of nature through stronger legislation and incentives.
  • Sustainable community development.
  • Comprehensive and co-ordinated flood management.
  • Much improved public transport.
  • Effective speed measures for our towns and villages.

Latest News

Mental Health Bill loses human rights focus after government amendments

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 […]

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Recruitment drive needed to tackle deplorable waiting lists for primary care services for young people

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 […]

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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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