James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Since he became a Minister, Deputy Shatter's contribution to the Government's reform programme has been unstinting. He himself outlined the long list of legislation he has brought through this Chamber and the many Bills published that have yet to be introduced.

Let me tell Members something of the qualities of the man, Alan Shatter and as a Minister, the Alan Shatter that we, his close colleagues, know. He is impatient for change, as many of us are but he is also persistent. He speaks out but also listens. He concentrates on his portfolio but never loses sight of the human being his reforms will affect. He is committed, diligent, focused and supportive of every person around the Cabinet table. I cite, for example, the tremendous co-operation he and his Department gave to me in the Department of Health as we moved to set up an emergency aero-medical ambulance service, a first for the country and brought in during a time of deep recession, a service ignored by the previous government when money was flowing through the coffers. There were many complex issues involved in this but with the Minister's strong commitment and with the support of helicopters from the Air Corps, we set up the emergency aero-medical service based at Custume Barracks in Athlone. It has been an invaluable service and has saved many lives, in more than 200 completed missions. The helicopter has a reach across the west and many persons alive today owe their survival to the fact that the helicopter brought them from the scene of an accident or because of their health problem to the hospital where lifesaving care was given.

The Minister, Deputy Shatter, can rightly point to a long list of areas where he has implemented reform. He can point to a range of areas where that reform is ongoing. The Minister works hard-----

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