Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Leader to assure us that there will be no guillotine on the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill. Committee Stage is scheduled to commence tomorrow. I gather the Leader has already said that he will allow for a full debate but I wish to be assured that this is the case.

Recently, we held a debate in the House on defibrillators. I was impressed to receive a letter yesterday from St. Conleth's School. Gavin Maguire is the man who organised it. He organised a walk to Glendalough for his students. Unfortunately, one of his students, a young man called Neil Quinlan, died and they were unable to revive him. Then, the students got together to see whether they could raise money for defibrillators. They raised money for four defibrillators by going on a walk, called the Neil Quinlan walk, to Glendalough. They organised money for four defibrillators, one of which is in Glendalough, one is in Killarney, one is in Knockree and the last is in Errigal, County Donegal.

What jolted them was that they had to pay VAT of €919, which would almost have bought another defibrillator. It seems such a scandal. Earlier this year, there was a fuss about the high cost of some drugs but the Minister was able to organise to get VAT negotiated. We have introduced legislation and it has taken a first step. If ever there was a case for defibrillators, it would be a shame if we do not do something about the associated VAT. Someone will tell us that it is an EU issue and that we cannot address it here but I am sure it is possible to do something. I urge the Leader to see what he can do to urge the Minister for Finance to make an exclusion for defibrillators. If we are to have them in future, then to spend money like that when it is saving lives is something to which we should have a different attitude.