-
Medical Charities 1700's~eary 1900's
Late eighteenth-century utilitarianism gave rise to Four types of public medical institutions Voluntary Hospitals ,Dispensaries ,Fever Hospitals & County Infirmaries ; collectively known as medical
charities. In the Free State, from 1922 onwards, what had been workhouses were closed or turned into district hospitals, primarily, or various forms of residential homes for the elderly.John Crampton, Medical Report of the Fever Department in Steevens’ Hospital (Dublin, 1819) -
Democratic Programme 1919
The ‘Democratic Programme’ committed the fledgling Irish ‘Republic’ to abolishing ‘the
present odious, degrading and foreign poor law system’ and replacing it with ‘a sympathetic
native scheme for the care of the nation’s aged and infirm’. Similarly, it was the Republic’s
duty to safeguard the health of the people and ensure the physical as well as the moral wellbeing of the nation. -
Birth of the Irish Free State/1922
Map of the results of the 1918 general election produced by the Friends of Irish Freedom, New York / Cornell University – PJ Mode Collection of Persuasive Cartography -
Period: to
Cumann na nGaedheal 1923~32
Pro Treaty split from SF Conservative party. .Priorities as 1st Free State Govnt. (emerging from civil war )was Public Safety- founding of an Garda Siochana, building an economy (pro free trade rather than protectionism). Welcomed religious orders role in Health and Eductaion. -
Abolition of Irish Poor Laws 1838-1925
Established by Westminster In response to widespread destitution of Irish citizens, provided a system of poor relief based on the workhouse and financed through local property tax. -
Period: to
Fianna Fail 1932~1948
In relation to Health & welfare the most significant achievements were massive house construction, Heath Act 1947 ,Establishment of Dept. of Health and the elimination of TB in the late 40's -
1st Fianna Fáil government
From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the 2011 general election, the party was in power for 61 of 79 years. -
Public Hospitals Act 1933
Established the statutory body Hospitals Trust Board to allocate funds from Irish sweepstakes to local authorities and voluntary hospitals. -
Bunreacht na hÉireann 1937
The Irish Constitution was ratified by the Irish people in 1937. It is the fundamental law of the State. It is also part of a wider human rights framework in respect to commitments made by Ireland, including treaties under the United Nations, the European Convention of Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. -
Beveridge report
The Beveridge report & white paper for a National Health Service in Britain prompts debate in Ireland incl. Bishop Dignan and the medical profession both advocating an insurance based health care system.(Rejected by Fianna Fail Government) -
Dr.Deeny : A free National Health Service for everyone
The report written by the chief medical officer, Dr. James Deeney, has been described as, ‘the most radical document ever produced on the Irish health services’ proposes a free national health service for all, that mirrors the NHS in Britain. Opposed by the Medical Profession and Catholic Church .Rejected by Fianna Fail Government -
Health Act 1947
''AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER AND BETTER PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS BY VIRTUE OF WHICH CERTAIN CHARGES MAY BE MADE.'' [13th August, 1947.] It consisted of various public health reforms, including the contentious Mother and Child scheme which was successfully opposed in its original form. -
First Interparty Government :1948~1951
A coalition of ,Fine Gael, Labour, Clan na Poblachta and Clann na Talmhan, which came to power in 1948) .Fine Gael Taoiseach John A. Costello & CP Minster for Health Dr. Noel Browne -
Period: to
First Interparty Government
To provide free care to mothers before and after birth, and children up to the age of 16. Opposed by Fine Gael , medical profession & Church in 1951 and collapsed the coalition government. -
Dr. Noel Browne :Mother and Child Scheme
To provide free care to mothers before and after birth, and children up to the age of 16. Opposed by Fine Gael , medical profession & Church in 1951 and collapsed the coalition government. -
Period: to
Fianna Fail 1951~1954
June 14th, 1952: The Social Welfare Act establishes a co-ordinated system of social welfare. On October 29th 1953, the Health Act provides for a free Mother-and-Child health care scheme. -
Heath Act 1953
The introduction of the medical care for those who could not afford treatment. (District medical officer)It also extended free or subsidized hospital care for non- medical cared holders, middle income earners .The State was not considered to have a duty to provide free health care for everyone, without means testing.( Two tier criteria, full & limited eligibility.) A much reduced version of original Mother and Child Scheme was passed into legislation and universal healthcare was abandoned -
Period: to
Fine Gael -Labour and Clann na Talmhan 1954~1957
-
Voluntary Health Insurance Act, 1957
The not-for-profit state-owned statutory organisation provided for middle and upper income group who wished to opt for private care. This was the seed of the now two tier public & private hospital HealthCare syate. Membership grew rapidly, from 23,238 at the end of February 1958 to 645,165 twenty years later, and by the early 1990s about one-in-three Irish people were policyholders, mainly drawn from middle income groups. In 2002 nearly half of the population was
covered. . -
Period: to
Fianna Fail 1957~1973
Brought about the Voluntary Health Insurance Act 1957.Brought about the 1970 Health Act which established the 8 Health Boards. Expansion of the Medical Card.Eligibility for public hospital service were established. -
The Health Act 1970
Established the 8 Health Boards. Expansion of the Medical Card.Eligibility for public hospital service were established. -
Ireland joined the EU (EEC) in 1973
-
Period: to
Fine Gael -Labour ~1973-1977
-
Period: to
Fianna Fail 1977~1981
-
Period: to
Fine Gael /Labour
-
Period: to
Fianna Fail
-
Period: to
Fine Gael /Labour , Fine Gael
-
Period: to
Fianna Fail,FF/Progressive Democrats, FF, FF/Labour, FF
FF in govnt. 1987~1994 with &without coalition -
Celtic Tiger Years 1994~2007
-
Period: to
Fine Gael/Labour /Democratic Left
-
Period: to
FF/PD,FF/Green Party/PD,FF
From 1997~2011 FF lead coalitions.
1994-2008 celtic tiger -
Tobacco Acts 2002 & 2004
-
Disability Act 2005
-
Health Act 2007
Enables HIQA to conduct statutory investigations into acute hospitals and set regulations for residential care settings. -
Banking collapse
-
Period: to
Fine Gael/Labour, Fine Gael / Independents
-
Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015
-
Slaintecare
-
General Data Protection Regulations 2018
-
Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018
Followed on from previous legislation & Policies on alcohol and associated harms incl. Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 &2008 -
Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax Regulations 2018
Finance Act 2017 & Taxes Consolidation Act 1997
€31.72m in the first year of the sugar tax - but not a cent has been directly spent on tackling the obesity crisis. -
Covid 19 Pandemic 20/21
-
The National Stroke Strategy 2020-2025
-
Period: to
FF/FG/Greens
Current government coalition