Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is now 19 days since the horrific massacre in New Zealand. I praise the manner in which the Prime Minister of that country, Ms Jacinda Ardern, handled the aftermath of the Christchurch mass shooting. I know that other Senators have spoken about this recently but events could easily have been mismanaged by someone with a lot less tact or compassion. Given that my sister lives in New Zealand, I am glad that the Prime Minister managed the crisis so gracefully and instigated change so swiftly. She changed the gun laws in that country within six days of the atrocity. We have a lot to learn from that. I ask that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges would consider inviting Ms Ardern to address the Houses of the Oireachtas because we have a lot to learn from her.

I wish to make brief mention of the coastguard service. Last year my party colleague Deputy Robert Troy introduced a Bill which would establish an Irish coastguard authority and designate said body as the principal response agency to engage in the management and co-ordination of responses to major emergency events within the State. The Bill would create a statutory Irish coastguard authority, and in doing so, acknowledge the stellar work the coastguard already does and ensure that it would continue to be able to do so. Since the introduction of that Bill, the coastguard has banned volunteers from using blue lights and sirens on vehicles while travelling to incidents. Clearly this situation needs to be rectified and proper training for volunteers provided. Staff and volunteers were informed that drivers are no longer permitted to use blue lights and sirens while driving on public roads but can use them when parked, which seems ludicrous. This undermines the valuable role of the coastguard. A second-rate emergency response service is not in the public interest. A plan must be put in place immediately to roll out emergency driver training for coastguard volunteers to restore their full use of emergency lights and sirens. Will the Leader consider organising a debate in the House on this issue and on the emergency services more generally?