Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----sorry, 96 - the additional capacity as committed - because the population is growing. One of the big issues in terms of public services more generally over the past decade has been the growth in population. As we configure our services into the future, we have to think about that increased population. It is growing fast now and will continue to.

I trust the clinicians and those at the coalface to map out for us in government their recommended pathways and approaches to deal with an emergency situation of this kind. The first responder service will be crucial and we need to engage with the National Ambulance Service. In a cardiac situation, in particular, or in other accidents, that first response is the key response to eventual survival and to outcome in respect of particular sudden medical emergencies that can emerge. Sometimes that role of the first responder is under-appreciated in such a context.

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