Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would accept this if it was about some other group of employees but these are dedicated, vital, fast responders. I salute the first responder groups - there is one in my own community - that do excellent work here. They do the work of the HSE and in some cases, they are supported by these particular paramedics who have these cars. They train with them and support them every which way. It is a reassurance that they are in an area. They have the blue lights so they can travel quickly to an incident or accident. If they go in their own car, they have to observe the rules of the road and they do not have blue lights which results in delays.

We are already crucified with delays and some people must wait three, four, five or six hours for ambulances, which come from Sligo to Clonmel and from Clonmel up to Roscommon. The whole thing is badly broken. This is the one area that was not broken; it was ag obair go hiontach, doing great work and working. Why change it? It was changed because Revenue may be an issue. Why do we not wait and see if it has an issue? We literally have taken these vital paramedics off the road. This is penny-pinching on a vital service. There are plenty of other areas to sort out the waste and issues in the HSE but not for these angels of mercy who can come so swiftly to an accident or incident.

See this speech in context