Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Roads Act 1993 and the Road Traffic Act 1994 to exempt blood bike operators from road tolls and from restrictions from which ambulances are granted exemptions, including access to bus lanes, in the performance of their duties, and to provide for related matters.

Tá áthas orm Bille na rothar fola a chur faoi bhráid na Dála. Is Bille é seo atá ag iarraidh aitheantas a thabhairt faoi dheireadh don dream atá gafa leis an obair dheonach seo - obair ríthábhachtach a thacaíonn le sláinte an phobail trí fuil, bainne cíocha, samplaí agus uirlisí leighis a iompar ar fud na tíre chuig suíomhanna ina bhfuil siad ag teastáil go géar agus le práinn chun saolta saoránaigh a shábháil. Is laochra iad lucht na rothar fola agus thabharfadh an Bille seo aitheantas dóibh sa dlí le cinntiú go mbeadh feidhm ag aon eisceacht atá ann d’otharcharranna maidir le rialacha bóthair do na rothair fola chomh maith.

Blood bikes save lives.

This Bill arose because volunteers came to me to highlight that the current road traffic legislation provides no exemption from road tolls or from the rules that block them using bus lanes. Those exemptions exist for ambulances. They told me it would make their lives easier if the blood bikes could access bus lanes and have those exemptions.

In response to this Bill, one of the volunteer groups, Blood Bike Leinster, stated that recognising blood bikes under the legislation is not only a matter of equity but also a step towards aligning with international best practice. It stated that the legislation would allow its volunteers to focus on what matters most, which is saving lives, without the unnecessary financial and logistical burdens that are currently placed on them.

I am grateful to the blood bike groups up and down the country that have shown support for the Bill. That is true of groups in Dublin, Navan, Monaghan, Mullingar and elsewhere. Many of them have contacted me in recent days to endorse the Bill. They have also shared with me their stories of what they do and have done in the past.

To give TDs an idea of the work involved in a blood bike service, Blood Bikes East gave me an idea of its work as one example after I published this Bill. It told me that its members operate on a 100% voluntary basis. It has nearly 140 volunteers, all with Garda vetting, Tusla Children First training, good distribution handling certificates from PLS Pharma, as well as the highest civilian training for motorcyclists. They say this represents the professionalisation of blood bike branches up and down the country, which is continuing apace. They are recognised and acknowledged by the other emergency services as one of their own. They are not, however, recognised by the State.

Blood Bikes East supports 26 hospitals and nursing homes across the greater Dublin area and links in with the regional blood bike groups in a developing national network. Its representatives told me the organisation handless 6,000 calls annually, all of which are tracked and traced. That is just one group.

Groups across the country provide an emergency medical transfer facility for hospitals, laboratories and other facilities. They collect donated breast milk and deliver it to maternity and children's hospitals while ensuring safe and suitable arrival. They collect blood samples from the homes of children with leukemia and return with their chemotherapy medication. That means sick children are not exposed to dangerous environments and parents are relieved of additional stress and time burdens. I applaud them. They fund all of this work through bucket collections, donations and sponsorship. I salute those who help and sponsor them, including Easytrip, which waives the tolls for blood bikes, ambulances and motorbikes. It should not, however, be up to voluntary groups and private companies to negotiate exemptions for tolls or the use of bus lanes. It should be the law of the land.

I brought forward a similar Bill to exempt sea and river rescue teams, such as the Coast Guard, Civil Defence and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, RNLI, which are groups that save lives and were expected to foot the bill for tolls. Blood bikes also save lives and that is why I have put together this Bill. It is a simple and practical Bill. We should answer their call and ensure this legislation passes today and passes into law in the future.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is the Bill being opposed?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."