SDLP Welcomes Commitment to Reinstate Cross-Border Healthcare Scheme

SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has welcomed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's commitment to reinstate a cross-border healthcare scheme aimed at reducing waiting lists.

The SDLP has consistently campaigned for the reintroduction of the scheme since its closure in 2022 due to funding issues. The initiative, originally introduced by the EU, allowed patients from Northern Ireland to access healthcare in the Republic of Ireland and vice versa.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: "The cross-border health scheme, first introduced by the EU, helped thousands of people from both sides of the border access timely care in locations that suited their needs. It was deeply regrettable that the scheme was allowed to end in 2022 due to a lack of funding and the absence of an Executive, depriving people of vital care as waiting lists continued to grow.

"From the day and hour this scheme ended the SDLP has been campaigning for its return and I welcome the commitment from the Minister today. We also share concerns that under the previous scheme patients had to pay upfront for their treatment and were then reimbursed. Any new scheme must address this imbalance.

"We need to see a fund established that allows anyone who needs this scheme to avail of treatment, healthcare must be based on need and not ability to pay. Ultimately, it's the department that pays for this care so it makes no sense to exclude people from the off.

"Any move that gets people off waiting lists is positive and I hope the Minister's Executive colleagues will assist him in delivering this measure 'at pace'. It's welcome that the Minister is focusing on a solution that can quickly help people on both sides of the border access care."

Greens Condemns Executive's 'Fake Grass' Environmental Policies Green Party NI Leader Mal O'Hara has criticised the Executive's environmental policies, likening them to "fake grass" – appearing beneficial from a distance but proving detrimental upon closer inspection.

O'Hara expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of Lough Neagh, attributing the crisis to the "industrialised farming" practices favoured by the five Executive parties. He criticised the Executive's recovery plan for focusing on "awareness and education" rather than "fines and enforcement", arguing that this approach lacks the necessary teeth to address the environmental damage.

He further condemned the Executive's decision to backtrack on the New Decade New Approach commitment to establish an Independent Environmental Protection Agency, stating that Northern Ireland's environmental record is abysmal.

"Lough Neagh is dying before our eyes, with the responsibility lying at the feet of these 5 parties that pursued industrialised farming on behalf of big agri-food. The Executive plan for recovery is focused on awareness and education rather than fines and enforcement. They have rowed back from the commitment in New Decade New Approach to establish an Independent Environmental Protection Agency in their newest Programme for Government. Northern Ireland emits higher per capita emissions than anywhere else on these islands. Our air is toxic. Our soil quality is deteriorating and none of our rivers, lakes and coastal plains meet a good standard. Northern Ireland is the 12th worst place in the world for species loss. That is the responsibility for those that have been in power for 27 years and have done precious little to address it," said O'Hara. 

Despite his strong criticism, O'Hara welcomed the Assembly's vote in favour of creating a Climate Commissioner, a key provision of the Climate Act secured by Green MLAs in 2022.

"It is welcome that today the Assembly voted for the creation of a Climate Commissioner, which should hold government to account on its environmental record.

"This is a key part of the Climate Act that Green MLAs ensured happened in 2022. Let's hope today is a sea change in approach from the Executive parties," he concluded.