# Stephen Donnelly

All time

# Healthcare

Three years into new abortion laws, Stephen Donnelly says 'ease of access' has not been achieved

The Health Minister has been answering questions in the Oireachtas Health Committee.

An independent chair to lead a review into abortion laws has not yet been named.

The terms of reference for the review have been criticised for being too narrow.

The minister said today there has been a "significant reduction" in people travelling to the UK for terminations.

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Dec 8th 2021, 4:30 PM

# Schools

Chair of expert ventilation group says Nolan's comment on HEPA filters 'defies laws of physics'

Professor John Wenger said the filters could help schools with poor ventilation.

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Dec 1st 2021, 4:39 PM

# omicron

Donnelly: Suspected cases of Omicron variant identified, new strain 'likely' in Ireland

The health minister also said plans to subsidise antigen tests have been scrapped because prices have dropped in recent weeks.

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Nov 29th 2021, 1:27 PM

# anitgen testing

Expert rapid testing group proposed twice-weekly tests two months before NPHET recommendation

The proposal was discussed by officials at a meeting two months ago.

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Nov 18th 2021, 9:30 PM

# Coronavirus

'Marginal' change in people's behaviour will bring Covid-19 'under control', Nolan says

“The fundamental message here is we need to act,” Professor Philip Nolan said.

Health officials last night confirmed a further 3,633 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

Leo Varadkar said last night the government will reassess the Covid-19 situation in about two weeks time.

"The fundamental message here is we need to act," Nolan said.

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Nov 18th 2021, 9:09 AM

# antigen tests

Antigen tests will be free for schools and close contacts, but not the wider public

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that antigen tests may be subsidised, but not completely paid for, by the State.

39.5k

Nov 17th 2021, 8:55 AM

# rapid testing

Government looks to subsidise cost of antigen tests to help people buy them at a lower price

The minister wants the Government Covid Contingency Fund to cover the costs of rolling out antigen tests nationally.

29.1k

Nov 13th 2021, 11:00 AM

# Covid-19

Taoiseach: Government 'will consider' NPHET's advice about people working from home

NPHET has asked the government to change its advice around a gradual return to workplaces.

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Nov 12th 2021, 1:57 PM

# Coronavirus

Govt expects NPHET to formally advise work-from-home ‘where possible'

Political sources indicate health officials will be sending out a strong message to keep the rate of infection lower.

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Nov 11th 2021, 8:41 PM

# Covid-19 entry rules

Donnelly favours ‘urgent sanctions’ for outlets not checking Covid certificates

The Health Minister said venues not complying with the law are putting lives at risk.

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Nov 7th 2021, 6:51 PM

# factcheck

FactCheck: Are vaccinated people as likely to transmit Covid-19 as non-vaccinated people?

Did a study show a vaccinated person is every bit as likely to transmit Covid as an unvaccinated person? We test a claim made in the Dáil by Wexford TD Verona Murphy.

A TD made the claim this week, leading to the Minister for Health criticising the spread of 'anti-vax information'

We spoke to the author of the study referenced by the TD, who said the claim was incorrect

The study's results were complex and it's easy to see how messages became mixed around the findings, writes Brianna Parkins

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Nov 5th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Coronavirus

No plan to reintroduce restrictions but Covid figures are 'very concerning', Donnelly says

Public health officials earlier today confirmed 3,726 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

34.2k

Nov 2nd 2021, 10:21 PM

# Covid-19

Coronavirus: 3,726 new cases confirmed as Ireland records highest daily figure since January

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed the figure in the Dáil this evening.

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Nov 2nd 2021, 5:34 PM

# INMO

Student nurses Dáil protest: 'I know I'm not staying in Ireland - after I'm qualified, I'm gone'

Trade union representatives and opposition TDs said that paying student nurses was about securing the health service.

23.8k

Nov 2nd 2021, 4:19 PM

# booster shots

Booster vaccine programme for over-60s to begin next week

A booster shot will only be given six months after a person received their second dose of the vaccine.

Those aged between 60-69 will get their booster shot at a mass vaccination centre, while GPs will administer the jabs to those aged between 70 to 79.

Booster shots will only be given to a person six months after the date of their second dose of the vaccine.

The Irish Pharmacy Union said the decision to exclude community pharmacies from the campaign is 'illogical'

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Oct 28th 2021, 9:05 PM

# The Pill

Donnelly: Free contraception scheme for women aged 17-25 will begin in August 2022

The scheme will cost between €18m to €22m.

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Oct 22nd 2021, 2:49 PM

# rapid testing

State could buy 500,000 antigen tests per week as Govt told rapid testing may play 'important role'

Ireland is understood to have two million rapid tests in stock.

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Oct 21st 2021, 2:28 PM

# booster shots

Donnelly says he would like to see healthcare workers get the green light for the booster jab

The booster shots for the over 60s will begin ‘imminently’, said the minister.

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Oct 20th 2021, 3:59 PM

# vaccination week

Pop-up vaccination centres to be extended on college campuses

The pop-up centres were established across 15 higher education sites two weeks ago as part of Vaccination Week.

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Oct 16th 2021, 12:35 PM

# The Pill

Donnelly says free contraception for 17-25 year olds 'is just the start'

The health minister said the roll out of such a measure would’ve been ‘unthinkable to do in the past’.

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Oct 14th 2021, 5:16 PM

# lifting restrictions

Why are cases high if our vaccine rate is so good? Our proximity to the UK, says Donnelly

No consideration is being given to re-introducing any restrictions, says the minister.

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Oct 14th 2021, 4:09 PM

# The Budget

'Over 25s have sex': Criticism of decision to limit free contraception scheme to young women

The roll out of free contraception to women aged between 17 and 25 was announced today.

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Oct 12th 2021, 9:32 PM

# Women's Health

Free contraception to be made available for young women

Two GP appointments per year relating to contraception will also be free.

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Oct 12th 2021, 2:06 PM

# sláintecare

Health Minister Donnelly wants new Sláintecare consultants contract agreed ‘within weeks’

Stephen Donnelly repeated his commitment to the Sláintecare programme, which has been hit by high-profile resignations in recent weeks.

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Oct 9th 2021, 6:06 PM

# march for maternity

Protesters take calls for end to maternity restrictions to gates of Leinster House

More than 100 people gathered to call for partner access to neo natal units to be restored to pre-pandemic levels.

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Oct 6th 2021, 5:56 PM

# budget 2022

Roll out of free contraception expected to be given green light for Budget 2022

The roll out of free contraception is key promise in the programme for government.

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Oct 5th 2021, 6:00 AM

# winter is coming

Emergency powers linked to indoor dining extended to January, but Govt says no plans to use them

Provisions in the Health Amendment Act are due to expire on 9 October.

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Sep 28th 2021, 6:50 PM

# Healthcare system

Non-EU doctors in Ireland to get more access to specialist training after pandemic campaign

The move has been hailed as “a very important achievement”.

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Sep 26th 2021, 12:15 PM

# New York

Families and children of public figures are 'not fair game', says minister

Coveney said he was not sure whether legislation to tackle protests at the homes of politicians would be possible.

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Sep 23rd 2021, 8:00 PM

# Leo Varadkar

Call for new laws as group that protested at Tánaiste's home pledges to target every politician

Both the Tánaiste and Minister for Health were targeted at their homes in recent weeks.

Individuals who organised and attended these protests have pledged to continue with these types of demonstrations on a weekly basis, Michelle Hennessy reports.

The demonstrations have been widely condemned by both government and opposition politicians.

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Sep 22nd 2021, 12:05 AM

# Healthcare

Sláintecare Council to meet Donnelly for first time since resignations

The council is discussing the state of the project with the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

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Sep 16th 2021, 7:52 PM

# safe zones

Donnelly says he will 'prioritise' legislation for safe access zones around health facilities

An exclusion zone would mean protests would not be permitted in the area surrounding a healthcare facility.

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Sep 15th 2021, 6:00 PM

# Explainer

What's going on with the government's Sláintecare plan for the health service?

The office in charge of the reforms saw two key departures this week.

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Sep 10th 2021, 8:00 PM

# menopause

Donnelly announces establishment of Ireland's first centre for menopause

The centre will be located at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.

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Sep 10th 2021, 5:25 PM

# Cancer

Health minister hopeful of Budget boost for Irish cancer services

Stephen Donnelly said he expected the health service to see an increase in the number of patients presenting with cancer in the coming months.

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Sep 4th 2021, 2:16 PM

# Schools

Teachers not at increased risk of admission to hospital with Covid, study finds

When schools are open, the risk among teachers and other working-age adults is similar, research has shown.

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Sep 2nd 2021, 7:17 AM

# Looking Back

Taoiseach says 'evaluation' into handling of Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland will be carried out

However, he said it’s his “preference that we manage the pandemic first with all hands on deck”.

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Sep 1st 2021, 2:10 PM

# ventilators

Sinn Féin TD calls on Oireachtas Committee to investigate HSE procurement of ventilators

The HSE has been criticised in an audit report about its procurement of the ventilators at the beginning of Covid-19.

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Sep 1st 2021, 1:17 PM

# health minister

Stephen Donnelly says he was 'concerned' at footage of crowds after GAA hurling final

He urged those in attendance who were “too close to people for too long” to go and get tested.

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Aug 25th 2021, 9:02 AM

# Vaccines

NIAC has advised that Covid-19 vaccines can be mixed in some cases, Donnelly says

The Minister also said NIAC has advised that booster shots be given around the same time as the flu shot.

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Aug 17th 2021, 2:20 PM