Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy has expressed his confidence in the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) delivering a series of robust reform proposals for the FAI.

Up to 500 ambulance staff nationwide are to hold a fifth strike tomorrow in a stand-off with the HSE over their right to be represented by a trade union of their choice.

The Government is “open to” changing legislation to guarantee any investigation into the cervical screening scandal is carried out in public.

The HSE has been unable to clarify which of the laboratories it contracts to process cervical smears produced inaccurate test results in relation to 206 women.

A patient advocacy group says it is deeply disappointing the Government may decide against introducing ‘statutory open disclosures’, a legal obligation on doctors and health professionals to tell patients when there has been a serious failing in their care.

Concerns have been raised about the implications of Brexit for patients travelling to Britain for medical treatment.

The body charged with improving the standard of public administration in the country made a €126,688 settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in 2014.

Retail spending in Dublin’s city centre could collapse if planned new traffic restrictions are introduced. The Irish Parking Association has warned that city centre businesses face a 24% drop in revenue, if plans to ban traffic from key routes go ahead.

The Department of Finance has spent over €280,000 over the past year in third level and training courses for its staff, new figures show.

Ministers who give grants to groups in their own constituencies without explaining why should be accused of "geographical top-ups" in the same way as charity officials have been criticised for misusing public money.

HSE officials have controversially told private nursing homes to pass on the cost of extra services such as physiotherapy and “toiletries” to elderly residents to cover ongoing cuts to the system.

A major medical review is under way over claims more than 20 women suffered alleged “severe post-operative complications” after being treated by a leading private sector consultant.

More than 3,000 non-consultant hospital doctors will stage a day of action this morning following a long-running dispute with the HSE over working hours.

The Irish Patients Association has said the HSE needs to be held accountable for poor hygiene standards in hospitals.

A leading patients’ group has said it will support junior doctors in whatever strike action they take — provided the public does not become “a pawn in this looming avoidable crisis”.

The high cost of legitimate drugs is forcing a record number of people to gamble with their lives by seeking out cheaper black market medications online.

Advocacy experts have warned that slashing funding to interest groups could damage society and said many in the sector believed their funding was at risk if they were too critical of Government departments and State agencies.

A patient advocacy group vocal in its criticism of health service failures, has had its funding pulled by the HSE.

Health Minister James Reilly has been urged to scrap the existing HSE inquiry into Savita Halappanavar’s death by asking the Health Information Quality Authority to take over its control.

The HSE investigation team examining the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar is unlikely to be revealed until Monday due to last-minute changes and discussions.

People at risk of or affected by suicide have been urged to take advantage of a free Irish Examiner/Irish Patients Association (IPA) support and advice booklet by a Government minister.

More than 76,000 people have quit their private health insurance in the past year, with record numbers getting medical cards.

The Irish Examiner’s award winning Let’s Talk Suicide booklet is to be made available for free in pharmacies across the country.

A national vaccination register should be set up to ensure exact details are readily available about people in the grip of virus outbreaks such as that at the Nazareth House nursing home.

DAVID Lawlor (Letters, Dec 7) takes me up on my comment that the Irish public sector are “the most cosseted in Europe”.

MARGARET Hickey (Letters, Dec 1) claims the Irish public sector is the “most indulged public service in the EU” and the “most cosseted public sector in Europe and the Western world”.

A NORTH DUBLIN GP clinic is being paid over three quarters of a million euro a year by the state to treat patients who cannot afford their own costs.

IRELAND is in danger of creating a “health poverty trap” after it emerged over 200,000 more people have become eligible for medical and GP visit only cards since January 2010.

CONCERN has been expressed by the president of the Medical Council that the regulatory body cannot test the competence of doctors coming from other EU countries to work in Ireland.

The Irish Patients Association has today welcomed a commitment by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability Services Kathleen Lynch to begin independent audits of residences for people with intellectual disabilities within 18 months.

JUST four out of 33 intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals around the country were successfully able to isolate patients with MRSA, a new survey has found.

TRUST in public services has collapsed during the recession, with confidence lower than in Greece, a conference heard yesterday.

CORK’S new city manager has warned that reduced funding and staff numbers will pose significant challenges in the years ahead.

A SURVEY has found more than half the population feels too intimidated to complain about the quality of healthcare – yet the number of patient complaints received by the Health Service Executive last year rose by 63%.

ELDERLY patients left to shower unsupervised are particularly prone to slips, trips and falls in the country’s hospitals, according to data supplied to the Irish Patients Association (IPA).

PATIENT support groups have called for an overhaul of the HSE’s rental scheme of buildings and land with new figures revealing over €31 million was spent on leases in 2008.

THE HSE has short-listed four internationally renowned consultant radiologists to lead a “warts and all” investigation into Tallaght hospital’s X-ray review standards.

OMBUDSMAN Emily O’Reilly has called for widespread political reform here – claiming TDs’ and senators’ decisions are too tightly controlled by their party whips – and has blamed poor corporate governance for the overall downturn in the economy.

MORE than 600,000 Irish people are spending more than €86 million on counterfeit drugs every year as part of a potentially deadly multi-billion euro black market economy.

THE Irish Psychiatric Association (IPA) has called on the Government to clarify whether the €43 million announced in yesterday’s budget for investment in mental health projects includes money already raised through the sale of psychiatric institutions.

PATIENTS may be forced to opt out of attending hospital Emergency Departments if charges at the units are increased in next week’s budget, a leading group has claimed.

A UNIT designed to cater for the needs of children and teens with serious psychiatric problems remains closed to clients — almost seven months after the Health Service Executive (HSE) announced its official opening.

Former FAS chief Rody Molloy today quit his role promoting high standards in the public sector.