Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Swanick on bringing the Bill to the House. I congratulate him on his initiative. This is very important legislation. While I do not want to pre-empt what the Minister of State may say in his remarks, there may be aspects of the Bill that need to be tightened up. I am happy the Government will support the Bill. It important to have a conversation about the volunteerism, commitment and patriotism of our community first responders. We also need to look at the case of Cork City Council, which, as Senator Swanick said, has had to replace numerous lifebuoys.It is important that the content of the Bill goes beyond the debate today.

We all agree that vandalism is putting lives at risk and we cannot tolerate that. As I walked in Cork city yesterday, I noted a number of life buoys on the quay walls and there were defibrillators on some of the streets. We assume they are there and ready for use in the case of an emergency. As Senator Swanick said, Cork City Council had to replace life buoys last year. A defibrillator on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city had to be replaced by the council.

Members of the community in Ballinora, a community on the outskirts of Cork city, fundraised to buy a defibrillator and then volunteered for training in how to use it. As Senator Swanick said, that is the epitome of community spirit and all that is good in Ireland. I welcome the guests in the Visitors Gallery and thank them for the work they do on behalf of all of us.

It is not about having a carrot or a stick, as some people may say. Keyboard warriors on social media will give out about the Bill and say it is a case of Big Brother trying to become more involved in people's lives. We must explore new ways of deterring people from acts of vandalism, as Senator Swanick said. We referenced the Criminal Damage Act 1991. It deals with criminal damage to property generally, which includes life-saving equipment. The Act carries penalties including fines of up to €22,000 and imprisonment for ten years. This debate is about the endangerment of life and how we can ensure that vital equipment and infrastructure are not damaged or are not replaced. I make no apology for supporting the Bill because it is about ensuring that people who interfere with and damage defibrillators, life buoys or marine safety devices are prosecuted.

Weather alerts are issued at certain times of the year. People who go out on our seas, into the air or out on our roads are taking risks when trying to find people. Senator Swanick referred to mountain rescue teams in many parts of the country who go out in very arduous conditions. The Bill is about ensuring that there is a specific commensurate offence in respect of the act which has taken place. We owe these people a debt of gratitude. One of the ways in which we can ensure there is respect for their work and the work being done by bodies such as Cork City Council, which has put in place defibrillators and life buoys, is to ensure that life-saving equipment is available.

Laws must be more explicit. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, will be complimentary of us in his remarks in terms of what Senator Swanick is trying to achieve. The Bill is about ensuring that there is within our communities a mindset whereby we can educate and change behaviour in order to augment the significant work being done by volunteers. As part of the debate, we should reflect on the need for the Bill. The Title refers to life-saving equipment. The Bill will support the personnel who bravely go out to assist others.

The Minister of State has an interest in EpiPens and how we can have a community response. As Chair of the health committee, I worked on legislation involving universities and colleges which would have enabled those in need of life-saving EpiPens to have them administered. It is something we need to consider. This is about volunteers in our community and ensuring that we applaud their work not just in a pyrrhic sense, but also support them with legislation. It is about sending a strong message and ensuring that criminal damage cannot be tolerated or condoned.

As I said, this is not about having a big stick or imposing the maximum fine or prison sentence. That is not what we are trying to do. That is not what I understand Senator Swanick and I are trying to do. I want to educate people, but I want to do so in a manner which involves them.

I commend Senator Swanick and thank him for his work on the Bill. I wish to join him, as I did on the Order of Business, in commending the people of Blacksod and the first responders who won awards in Mayo at the weekend. I wish to thank all those all over our country who respond and save people's lives. That is why we have safety awards and need legislation in tandem with other good acts. I welcome the fact the Government will support the passage of the Bill to the next stage and again thank Senator Swanwick.