Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is fortunate the climate in which we live means status red situations are rare.

I commend my Sinn Féin colleagues on bringing forward this Bill and I regret that the Government has decided to oppose it. This Bill seeks to ensure that our under-resourced but heroic emergency services are not unnecessarily deployed into danger where their very lives would be at risk. These critical players in times of serious and, in this instance, status red situations should be engaged only in assisting or responding to those who absolutely need that help. It is apparent to me and to most, even here in this House, that we were far from ready or prepared for all that happened during Storm Ophelia. We need a greater investment in our emergency services, including in equipment that may be required only in extreme weather conditions.

As my party's spokesperson on disabilities and older people, I advocate a plan to ensure that no one with a disability or infirmity is left isolated, alone and vulnerable in status red situations. This Bill provides for exempting key care workers, essential support providers, from any general closedown situation. People with disabilities, with specific daily care needs, and older people living alone or together in isolated locations and with particular health care needs deserve a special response in times of severe weather conditions. The emergency services should be relieved of unnecessary call-outs in status red conditions, prioritising those who need and deserve the deployment of the very best that we can provide.

It is regrettable that the Bill will not proceed, as the Government, Fianna Fáil and other voices indicate. The Minister of State said that he intends to mention this debate on the Bill and the elements of it that he feels most comfortable with to his Cabinet colleagues. I urge him, or some other speaker for Government, to report at an early point to this House on what real extra services are being considered for the next status red situation. It is not enough that we are informed and that there is the optic of the media letting us know the situation, with news reports of the heroic efforts of the emergency services. We, especially those who are dependent, also need to know that we and they will feature in Government's preparations in the event of another status red situation. That is the only real comfort we can give people now and in the hope and expectation that if the worst weather presents again, the State will be ready to muster and respond to the needs of those who really need its help because of their dependency, infirmity, disability and isolated locations. I urge the Government to put in place a real plan that takes on board all the critical elements and is prepared to meet the worst that weather can throw at us.

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