Seanad debates

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Marie SherlockMarie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to mark International Safe Abortion Day and acknowledge the significant number of people who turned out on Saturday for the annual March for choice. Notwithstanding the enormous progress we made since the historic referendum three years ago, we still have significant issues regarding the delivery of abortion services in this country. While the Government's review is welcome, I urge the Government not to delay publishing and progressing it. The establishment of safe exclusion zones has been a long-promised commitment by the Government. While there have been mixed messages from the Minister for Health during the summer, we need those safe exclusion zones for women and their partners, and for medical staff. We need to look at the three-day waiting period and the 12-week threshold, which has caused significant distress, particularly in complex health cases and, of course, the patchy provision of abortion services since across this country, with only 10% of GPs and just ten out of the 19 maternity units offering the service.We need to see that review as soon as possible.

Another issue I wish to raise is in regard to Dublin Fire Brigade. It is an issue for this city but it is also touches on the entire country, that is, ambulance and fire service response times and services. As of yesterday, 20% of the Dublin Fire Brigade fleet could not be deployed because of serious staff shortages. This is not a one-off situation; it has been ongoing for many months now. There have been systematic failures to adequately recruit. Dublin Fire Brigade is recruiting fewer staff than the numbers retiring this year and it has taken in fewer recruits than it would take in during a normal year. It is failing to adequately plan for its workforce and it has never met the minimum staff standard agreed in 2015. There has been a failure to meet the long-standing commitments with regard to equipment.

While this is an issue for Dublin City Council, which manages Dublin Fire Brigade on behalf of the four local authorities in Dublin, it is also one for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Unless he puts in place the resources for our fire services, we will see a repeat of the horror we saw unfold in County Offaly yesterday. If we had an incident of that magnitude in this city, there would be a very real issue with regard to the response. This is not good enough for citizens or residents in the city communities, and firefighters.

I want to raise one other issue. Last week, the Leader raised MetroLink. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, stated over the weekend that it will be the cheapest and quickest project that he wants to see concluded. We need the Minister to come to the House. I know the Leader will be fighting for that as well.

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