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Gillian Mackay

High levels of lead exposure in children can affect the central nervous system and brain development, according to the World Health Organization.

Calls for ban on vaping products in supermarkets following lead findings

Last week, the First Minister said the Scottish Government’s expert group is currently considering a ban on the smoking alternative

Vaping ban: Proposed ban on alternative smoking products backed by charity

Buffer zones would see anti-abortion protests moved further away from health clinics and hospitals. Picture: John Devlin

Ambitions to introduce no-protest zones around abortion clinics before summer

Protesters pictured at the start of the '40 Days for Life' campaign in late February, outside the QEUH in Glasgow.

Government criticised as it scraps abortion buffer zones working group

22/02/2023. Glasgow. Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Dr Greg Irwin, in front of the vigil. 40 Days For Life start "Lent Vigil" Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow Patients face 40 days and nights "prayer vigil" outside a Glasgow hospital as anti abortion group arrive for the duration of Lent. 40 Days For Life, potentially face a buffer zone ban around hospitals and clinics if a bill is passed in the Scottish parliament. Pro-choice campaigners have hit out against the “intimidation” and “harassment” women seeking to access abortions in Glasgow are set to face over the next month. Today, Wednesday, a consultant paediatric radiologist urged the anti-abortion protesters to move along from the hospital. Dr Greg Irwin, who has been a vocal advocate for buffer zones, said: “We have got protesters outside the hospital for the next 40 days, all through Lent, 12 hours a day, causing harassment and intimidation of women seeking abortion healthcare. "It is an incredibly unkind, unfriendly thing to be doing. The doctor stated that the group can have a “prayer vigil anywhere they like” but criticised the group for staging the campaign as the “gates of the hospital”.

Campaigners condemn 'complete lack of progress’ on buffer zones

Protesters pictured at the start of the '40 Days for Life' campaign in late February, outside the QEUH in Glasgow.

Healthcare workers "referred to as murderers" while awaiting buffer zones

Dr Greg Irwin, in front of the vigil.

Watch: Furious doctor slams abortion vigil outside Glasgow hospital

Ministers will give “consideration” to a potential ban on disposable vape devices in Scotland, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has said.

Ministers to consider banning disposable vapes

Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, speaks at the annual Conservative Party conference in October. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Green MSP accuses Tories and Ross of ‘misogynistic behaviour’ in Holyrood

Sweet-tasting vapes could be banned to protect the health of children and young people under plans to be brought forward by the Scottish Greens in the new year. Picture: Getty Images

Call for ‘sweetshop’ vapes to be hidden amid child health concerns

Gillian Mackay, Green MSP. Pic: Michael Gillen.

MSP commits to implementing anti-abortion buffer zones 'as soon as possible'

NHS Grampian has said it does not want the automatic provision of buffer zones across its facilities (Photo: John Devlin).

Health board in Scotland does not want automatic provision of buffer zones

A consultation on introducing buffer zones around abortion clinics has closed after receiving more than 12,000 responses.

Consultation on abortion clinic buffer zones receives 12,000 responses

40 Days For Life hold a Prayer Vigil outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin/National World

Abortion clinic buffer zones backed by huge majority of Scots, poll finds

Nicola Sturgeon will host a summit on abortion care in Edinburgh today

Sturgeon: 'I'm confident we can find a way forward on buffer zones'

Campaigners call for women's experiences to be prioritised during a summit on abortion care after the Roe V Wade decision is announced (Photo: PA).

Calls for women’s experiences to be included at abortion summit as agenda leaked

Gillian Mackay MSP paused and asked her party's press officer, 'do I have to?' when asked about cuts to ScotRail's train services

MSPs should not display a sulky teenager’s attitude to democratic scrutiny

The Green MSP Gillian Mackay has launched her private member’s bill to implement anti-abortion buffer zones outside hospitals and clinics across Scotland to “protect women from harassment”.

Anti-abortion protest buffer zones bill launches

Denise Christie, a firefighter and member of the Fire Brigades Union, said reproductive rights are a trade union issue.

Abortion rights campaigners gather at US consulate in Edinburgh

Around 100 people attended the rally. Picture: Elsa Maishman

Abortion rights campaigners gather outside US consulate in Edinburgh

John Mason, who represents Glasgow Shettleston, has been criticised in recent weeks for his defence of anti-abortion “vigils” that have sprung up at Glasgow hospitals.

SNP MSP John Mason criticised for saying clinics ‘push abortion’

Campaigners who are against abortion protest outside Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. They will be demonstrating at the hospital for the whole of Lent (Photo: John Devlin).

Majority support buffer zones at Scottish abortion clinics, poll shows

Members of the 40 Days For Life group, campaigners who are against abortion, protest outside Glasgow's QEUH.

Impact of abortion clinic protests to be examined by Scottish ministers

Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy has criticised attacks by a lobby group on a job advert.

Not allowing disabled people to self-id leads to 'ridicule and intrusion', says ...

Lucy Grieve co-founder and director of Back Off Scotland

Councils can't implement 'buffer zones' legal experts rule

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Malcolm Offord as a minister in the Scotland Office.

Unelected millionaire given peerage and Scottish ministerial role by UK Gov

Protests such as that by Extinction Rebellion Scotland could be banned and people prosecuted.

Plan to restrict protests at Scottish Parliament confirmed by MSPs

The new poll is in contrast to recent polling

New poll puts support for Scottish independence at 51%

Johnson has been branded as 'deeply insensitive' for his comments praising Thatcher (Photo: Jane Barlow/Hilaria McCarthy/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

'Communities were devastated': Boris Johnson criticised for 'crass' joke praisin...

Opposition parties have called for answers around the drop in the number of care home investigations

'No excuse' for drop in number of care home investigations

Students outside of the entrance to the Lower and Upper College Halls at the University of St Andrews. Picture: PA Media

Pressure to 'reach out' to young people on vaccines as incentives suggested

Scottish parents concerned about missing out on long-awaited family holidays are planning to take their children out of school on the final week of term to minimise the chances of being forced to self-isolate at the start of the summer break

School's out: would you keep your child home to protect your summer holiday?

How are Scotland's biggest parties pledging to tackle disability issues?

Scottish Election 2021: Where the parties stand on disability issues

The Scotsman Top Stories

Defeat for Labour in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West byelection would be a disaster for Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar's hopes of removing the Conservative government with Scottish help (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

SNP could lose 23 seats to Scottish Labour at next general election - analysis

Figures, obtained by the British Medical Association (BMA) and given exclusively to The Scotsman, show Scotland has lost around 100 GP surgeries over the last decade. Pic: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

GP crisis laid bare as one in ten surgeries refusing to accept new patients

CalMac fines for performance have hit £4.5m for the last year and a half.

CalMac on track to break own record in level of poor performance fines