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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Today's meeting will be split into two sessions to discuss the issues facing ambulance services. In the first session, the committee will engage with representatives from SIPTU. I welcome from the union Mr. Ted Kenny, sector organiser, Mr. Geoff McEvoy, industrial organiser, Mr. Greg Lyons, ambulance sector president, Mr. Luke McCann, Dublin Fire Brigade, DFB, convener, and Mr. Peter Ray,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: I thank Mr. Kenny. The first speaker is Senator Kyne, who has five minutes for questions and answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Senator Kyne's time has expired.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: I thank Mr. McEvoy. The next speaker is Deputy Cullinane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Mr. McEvoy wishes to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Deputy Cullinane has to conclude.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Does Senator Black wish to speak now or later?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: We are over time. I will let Mr. Ray respond but we need to move on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Does Mr. McEvoy want to come in first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Mr. McCann's device is muted and we cannot hear him. Does Deputy Burke wish to come back in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: I ask the Deputy to allow Mr. Ray to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Mr. Kenny has made an important point. Before we move on to the management representatives in the next session, a point was made about staffing levels, a reduction of 20% in those levels and a reliance on overtime. Recently, we heard proposals from the Minister to fill vacancies. How would the witnesses respond to those proposals? Are they ambitious enough? Will they be sufficient to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Mr. Ray wants to contribute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: We rely as well of course in some areas on part-time firefighters. Does Mr. Kenny want the last word?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: I thank Mr. Kenny. I am conscious that it was mentioned that other unions are involved with these issues as well. We just did not have the space this morning to try to include representatives from all of them, but we will be glad to have their input into whatever future deliberations the committee has. I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee today. I apologise to those who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: In the second session today, we will engage with service providers. I welcome the second group of witnesses to our meeting. From the HSE National Ambulance Service, I welcome Dr. Cathal O'Donnell, medical director; Ms Emily Mahon, human resources manager; Mr. Liam Woods, national director, acute operations; and Mr. Robert Morton, interim director. From Dublin Fire Brigade, I welcome Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: The Deputy has five minutes and she is way over time. This is the final question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: I have to move on. While we wait for Deputy Durkan, I wish to follow up on a point made in the previous session. A suggestion was made about the introduction of hospital liaison officers to address difficulties with accident and emergency departments in particular. We heard evidence this morning that people were waiting five or six hours at hospital accident and emergency departments. Do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Seán Crowe: Other members are looking to get in. We are having some technical difficulties. While we are waiting on them, I will ask a few questions myself. I am told that Dublin is one of the best cities to have a heart attack in, if there is any good place to have one. That is largely down to the network that Dublin Fire Brigade and the ambulance service have been able to build up. Does Mr. Keeley...