Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the call for a debate on the proposed alcohol strategy. It is welcome that the Government is considering tackling the issue of below-cost selling. Alcohol Action Ireland is not particularly happy about the fact that the issue of sponsorship is not being dealt with at this time. I understand it will, however, be addressed during the next couple of years when sports organisations have had the opportunity to make alternative arrangements with other sponsors.

Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Health in the coming weeks on the ambulance service? I am particularly concerned about media reports this morning to the effect that ambulance response times in the west are much worse than those in other parts of the country and that only 49% of ambulance call-outs meet the HIQA standards for response times. This is a matter of some concern, particularly to people in the west. There is a need for the Minister and the director of the ambulance service to provide an update on this matter and their plans to improve the service in order that the HIQA standards will be achieved as quickly as possible.