Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I will not take up the same amount of time taken by the other party leaders. In 1985, 11 ambulances were available to Dublin fire brigade to answer 26,000 emergency calls. In 2005, 68,500 emergency calls were made, nearly a trebling of such calls since 1985, but the number of ambulances remains at 11. After the Stardust tragedy, seven fire prevention officer posts were created by Dublin Corporation for the whole of Dublin city and county. Today, that number remains at seven despite the expansion of Dublin city and its council with all the new hotels, tax breaks notwithstanding, and many more concert venues and pubs on the outskirts and suburbs of Dublin. Does a cold shiver run up the Taoiseach's spine with the thought that another Stardust could happen? The way the figures look, that is very possible. Will the Taoiseach meet the relatives of the victims? Will he double the Dublin fire brigade ambulance numbers and at least double the district office fire prevention posts?

See this speech in context