Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I compliment both Deputies on the respectful way this issue has been dealt with. While the assurances any Government might give might be some small comfort, it is not a great comfort for people who lose a loved one. I cannot guarantee Deputy McConalogue that there will be a full investigation. However, whenever there is a critical incident it is fully investigated. In this unfortunate episode, two people lost their lives.

The national ambulance service is undergoing major reform. Isolated areas will be greatly helped by the process of hospitals contacting the national ambulance service base, one of which will be in Ballyshannon which is not too far away from the area we are discussing. If there is, for instance, a high alert or a high call-out rate, the national ambulance service will know that that is in effect. It will be able to make provision to ensure there is a backup service available. That will have a significant impact.

Both incidents, as critical incidents, will be fully investigated. As Deputy McConalogue pointed out at the end, the only thing that families can seriously request is that in the event of some other family going through this, the response will be appropriate.

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