Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate, albeit just for one minute. I came to the House last Tuesday and asked the Leader to schedule a debate on this issue because I was deeply concerned to hear the city manager had gone ahead and announced a major change to the service without the consultation that was promised initially. Like Senator O'Brien, I do not doubt the Minister's bona fides as a Dubliner and someone who is aware of the service Dublin Fire Brigade provides and I know he does not want to see an ambulance taken out of service. However, I share the same fears that this could be the start of cutbacks to the service.

I have seen television documentaries about the HSE service and the response times around the country. We get a far better service in Dublin. Our response times are much better because the fire brigade is involved. Given the management by the HSE of other areas, I am very concerned to see a working service being brought under the ambit of the HSE. I also saw internal HSE documents last year that indicated this was all about cost-cutting. That makes me worried for the future of the service. I echo Senator O'Brien's comments in that I would appreciate it if the Minister could make time available in his schedule at the earliest opportunity to come in and have a full debate on this vital service. It is one of our most basic services, to be able to respond to medical emergencies. Best practice internationally is for an integrated fire and ambulance service and anything that puts that under threat needs to be discussed properly in this House not decided on unilaterally elsewhere.