Statement by Seamus Healy TD
Labour gives Go-ahead to Health Cuts and New Attack on Coeliacs
Congratulations to the disability campaigners and the Carers Association who camped outside Leinster House and succeeded in securing restoration of 10 million in cuts to personal assistance services. They have shown that standing up to barbarism works.
But, at yesterday’s cabinet meeting, the Labour ministers allowed all the other cuts including the cuts to home help services to go ahead and there are new exclusions from medicines available on the medical card. In addition to the anti-cholestrol drugs already excluded now gluten free foods are no longer covered by the medical card or by tax rebates. “Director of Older and Bolder, Patricia Conboy, said: “Cuts to home-care services which support older people to remain living at home and within their own communities will result in earlier admissions to nursing homes, longer stays in acute hospitals and anguish for families who wish to care for relatives suffering from illness, frailty and disability at home.” (see newspaper reports below)
I call on Labour Party representatives to take example from Labour Party councillor Paul O’Shea (Ennis) and to insist that all these cuts be set aside.
I have already sought, without success, an emergency meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health with a view to stopping these cuts.
The money should be found from taxing the still growing assets of the super-rich.
Net assets of the top 300 Irish citizens have increased by 4.9 Billion Euro in the year 2011 and by 12 billion in the past two years to a new high level of 62Billion! 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 Those who have gone “bust” or have much reduced wealth have been replaced by 44 new entrants.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.
Seamus Healy 087-2802199
Member of Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
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
Workers & Unemployed Action 