Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to arrange for an early debate, possibly next week, on the draft report that is being presented to the Joint Committee on European Affairs this morning, which is currently being discussed. I refer to the report of the sub-committee chaired by our esteemed colleague, Senator Donohoe, on Ireland's future in the European Union. It is important that the House has an opportunity to discuss the report in detail and possibly to make a recommendation to the Taoiseach before he meets the heads of state in Brussels in December.

Last week the Cathaoirleach was kind enough to allow me to raise a matter on the Adjournment of the House on the important issue of ambulance services at Roscommon County Hospital that serves County Roscommon. Will the Leader of the House arrange for the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to come to the House to give an explanation of why Roscommon County Hospital has not had 24/7 ambulance cover?

I raised the matter on 20 November and on that day a lady collapsed in Roscommon town. It took 40 minutes for an ambulance to come from Boyle, even though the hospital is within four minutes of the main street in Roscommon. The doctor said if someone was suffering from a massive haemorrhage or there was a major accident in the Roscommon town area we could have a really worrying situation on our hands. I am concerned at the lack of on-call ambulance cover for Roscommon town on a recent weekend between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. I rang Mr. Frank McClintock of the HSE this morning——