Deputy Séamus Healy
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has “regretted” the cuts in health funding announced by Minister Reilly but welcomed the HSE commitment to apply the reductions “on a case by case basis”. In short he has refused to veto the cuts and has instead issued a hypocritical statement.
The assets of the wealthiest 300 Irish Citizens have increased by €12 billion to €62 billion over the past two years. Rather than tax these assets Mr Gilmore is prepared to take a further €130 million out of a health service already devastated by cuts. A further reduction of €700 million in funding of health services next year has been promised by Minister Reilly. Instead of taxing the assets and incomes of the super-rich Dr Reilly wants to reduce the pay and conditions of health service workers whose pay has already been cut and who are working in the most difficult conditions due to staff cuts.
Of the eight cost-cutting proposals in the HSE plan outlined yesterday (30 August 2012), at least three will affect older people or the disabled exclusively. Services for both groups are likely to be seriously affected by a 600,000-hour cut in home help hours, as well as a reduction of 200 home care packages and a €10 million reduction in hours for personal assistants for people who need high levels of support trying to live independently. Services and supports for these patients have already been severely cut.
In addition cholesterol reducing drugs, among others, are to be removed from the medical card scheme. This removal will increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks thus shortening the lives of those who can’t afford to pay. This is in truth a descent into barbarism.
Net assets of the top 300 Irish Citizens have increased by €4.9 billion in the year 2011 and by €12 billion in the past two years to a new high level of €62 billion.
New research carried out by Nick Webb for Sunday Independent, March 11, 2012, has established the above figures and identified the 300 individuals concerned. Those who are gone “bust” or have much reduced wealth have been replaced by 44 new entrants. Wealth has not disappeared but some has moved between asset holders.
I have already sought an emergency meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee ( of which I am a member ) with a view to stopping these cuts.
I call on all Labour Deputies, including my fellow Deputy in the new Tipperary Constituency, to insist that these barbaric cuts be halted.
Séamus Healy TD – 087 2802199
01 September 2012
Emergency Meeting of Oireachtas Health Committee must be Called Immediately to Stop Barbaric Health Cuts
Deputy Séamus Healy
I have called on Chairman Gerry Buttimer TD to convene an immediate emergency meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee in order to discuss the Health Cuts announced by the HSE at the behest of the Government. I will be proposing that these cuts be rescinded at the meeting.
Minster Reilly and the Chief Executive of the HSE must appear before the meeting and must answer questions.
Of the eight cost – cutting proposals in the HSE plan outlined yesterday (30 August 2012), at least three will affect older people or the disabled exclusively. Services for both groups are likely to be seriously affected by a 600,000-hour cut in home help hours, as well as a reduction of 200 home care packages and a €10 million reduction in hours for personal assistants for people who need high levels of support trying to live independently. Services and supports for these patients have already been severely cut.
In addition cholesterol reducing drugs, among others, are to be removed from the medical card scheme. This removal will increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks thus shortening the lives of those who can’t afford to pay. This is in truth a descent into barbarism.
Labour must Stop Savage Attacks on the Old, The Sick, The Disabled.
The statement by the Labour Party Chairman, Colm Keaveney, that he is uncomfortable with the cuts is a mere washing of hands. The truth is that the Labour Party in government is imposing these cuts and can stop them. There are two Labour Party Junior Ministers, Kathleen Lynch and Roisín Shortall, in Dr Reilly’s Department of Health.
I call on Eamon Gilmore to veto these cuts immediately.
Séamus Healy TD – 087 2802199
Member of Oireachtas Health Committee
31 August 2012
The tax affairs of Mick Wallace T.D. are completely and absolutely wrong and unacceptable.
PAYE Workers are paying huge taxes and universal social charges directly from their wages, small businesses up and down the country are being put to the pin of their collar to pay their taxes, many have gone to the wall, social welfare recipients who have been overpaid are being made pay back the money.
Deputy Wallace has admitted underpaying V.A.T., collected from home-buyers, to the state and has not responded to the many suggestions that he pays this tax from his personal assets and income.
Deputy Wallace must pay back his tax liabilities from his assets and income, including his personal assets and income.
We cannot have double standards. There must not be one law for T.D.’s and another for ordinary citizens.
I believe Deputy Wallace’s position is incompatible with his continued membership of Dáil Éireann and that he should resign.
Seamus Healy T.D.
09/06/2012
087-2802199
Workers & Unemployed Action 