Health

The health services knew about the appalling conditions at Leas Cross from October 2004, but took no real action until Prime Time exposed the scandal. By Sara Burke

The oppostion's health reforms contain innovative measures which could alleviate some serious problems – if they're implemented. By Sara Burke

Michael McDowell has made a last-minute order establishing a Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board in order to stop a constitutional challenge and a civil case against the Central Mental Hospital. By Erik Salholm

The government's failure to establish the Criminal Law (Mental Health) Review Board means that mentally ill people will be detained indefinitely if arrested. By Erik Salholm and Emma Browne

Children are left vulnerable as the HSE fails to make basic checks on residential centres. By Emma Browne

One of the country's main centres for unaccompanied children seeking asylum does not provide proper care and protection for children, says a HSE report. By Emma Browne

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has said the Health Services Executive (HSE) is overcharging for long-stay public nursing-home patients by taking their spouses income into account when calculating their fees. Emily O'Reilly said yesterday a woman complained the HSE has taken into account her income as well as that of her husband, who was admitted to a long-stay nursing home last year. This, she said, is in conflict with regulations introduced by the Department of Health last year although not with existing HSE guidelines.

The 2005 report of the Mental Health Commission reveals shocking conditions and shocking neglect. By Vincent Browne

Over 340 million children under the age of six worldwide are left home alone while adult family members go to work. Almost one billion children under 15 live in the same situation.

St James's and Crumlin hospitals both criticised the task group report on the new children's hospital in letters to Mary Harney. Frank Connolly reports