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

I believe very strongly in the first responder model. The professionalisation of that service has been one of the great changes in healthcare in the past two decades. There has been debate in the House as to what is the best model for the organisation of our ambulance and first responder services. There have been difficulties with recruitment generally across the economy because we are in full employment. That is creating challenges right across all public services and in the private sector as well. I know from the Minister for Health that efforts are being made in recruitment and training to increase the number of people available for employment and to enable us to recruit more people more rapidly.

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