Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Annie Hoey has called on the Minister to provide assurance to all students that in-person exams are being held in line with public health guidance. Senator Hoey said: “Young people have been an afterthought throughout the pandemic. Last month I wrote to Minister Harris asking him to detail…

– Recruitment effort for vaccinators and swabbers needed With new restrictions planned to tackle the very high number of Covid-19 cases, Labour Health spokesperson Duncan Smith said a comprehensive new strategy is needed to bring us through the winter and protect our health service. Deputy Smith said: “Today in the Dáil the Minister for Health…

Raising the huge delays families in Dublin are faced with in obtaining birth certs for their children, Dublin Central Senator Marie Sherlock said these delays are having a huge impact on many families who are unable to access social welfare supports including child benefit and GP cards. Senator Sherlock said there has been a failure…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith said the confusion surrounding derogations of healthcare workers must be clarified by government immediately. Deputy Smith said it is simply unsafe to expect healthcare workers to work if they are close contacts and will lead to massive outbreaks in hospitals and other settings. Deputy Smith said: “The Labour Party fully…

Labour Senator and health committee member Annie Hoey has hit out at the Minister for Health for conflating the cost of providing free antigen tests with paying nurses. Senator Hoey said: “I was shocked to hear the Minister conflate the cost of antigen tests with paying nurses. It is a strawman argument designed to elicit…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has called on government to outline its plan to clear the backlog in PCR tests. Deputy Smith said people must be getting confirmatory PCR tests as soon as possible rather than waiting a number of days to even get a test in the first instance. Deputy Smith said: “The increase…

Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has welcomed the publication of the Government’s Winter Plan however said greater detail is needed. Calling for a new deal for healthcare in Ireland, Deputy Smith said we need detail on what role private hospitals will play when it comes to elective care and what can be done to end…