Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith linn. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Swanick as an Bhille seo a leagadh os ár gcomhair. Is Bille thar a bheith tábhachtach é a bhfuil deis aige difear suntasach dearfach a dheánamh, ní hamháin fá choinne an cháis seo. Táim cinnte go mbeidh teaghlaigh iad siúd uilig atá caillte mar gheall nach raibh a leithéid d'áiseanna ar fáil ag tacú agus ag leanstan an Bille seo agus é ag dul ar aghaidh.

I echo the commendation of Senator Swanick for bringing this Bill before us today. It is an important piece of proposed legislation. I agree with the Leader, Senator Buttimer, that there will of course be opportunities for us to discuss, tease out and amend the Bill as, it is to be hoped, it progresses through the Oireachtas. From our perspective, there are aspects around the five-year sentence which we can amend, given all the reasons laid out by Senator Buttimer.

I want to use my time to reflect on the broader sentiment of the Bill and life-saving equipment. A family had to undertake a long-standing campaign in my home city of Belfast. I was the Lord Mayor of Belfast when Joby Murphy, who was on his way home from a concert in the Odyssey Arena, fell from the Lagan Weir and drowned in the River Lagan. His family, in particular his father, campaigned extensively in the city. Joby was missing for what felt like months, given the agonising wait for his family for his body to be recovered from the Lagan. The family undertook a campaign in the city, and more broadly, in the immediate aftermath to locate life-saving equipment around the Lagan Weir and the river. Given the tragic loss of Joby and the agony his family had to go through for his body to be recovered, it was bad enough that there was no life-saving equipment in place that might have made a difference. We do not know whether it would have but it might have done had circumstances been different. Can one imagine the circumstances if equipment such as a lifebuoy were missing or damaged so it could not be used when trying to save someone in the river? It has already been said that a piece of this equipment stolen is potentially a life stolen. A piece of this equipment damaged could be the difference between life and death for someone. Therefore, I believe there should be legal repercussions for people who deliberately, consciously or knowingly interfere with, vandalise or damage life-saving equipment.

I reflected on the contributions that have been made. Senator Swanick mentioned the loss of Cormac McAnallen and the absolutely sterling work undertaken by his family with the GAA and society more generally to ensure access to defibrillators and that we become conscious of the health issues faced by sportspeople. In this regard, can one imagine a scenario similar to the one I mentioned regarding Joby Murphy. Imagine if a defibrillator in a GAA club were found smashed up or stolen when needed. One can only imagine the horror. It is depraved to consciously and knowingly smash or steal such equipment. There is merit in ensuring legal repercussions for anyone who would deliberately seek to do so.

I join colleagues who paid tribute to our emergency services and volunteers in community organisations, sports clubs and any number of other organisations who undertake training to ensure the necessary awareness prevails right across society and that the issues are fully and broadly understood. The equipment has made a difference and can do so in the future but we need to ensure it is in place and protected. We must educate and inform people and raise awareness of the importance of the equipment. My colleagues, party and I believe that when informed people deliberately destroy or vandalise pieces of life-saving equipment, or obstruct their use, they should face the necessary and appropriate legal repercussions.