Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I initially submitted this question, we did not have this extremely positive news. The important line in the Minister of State's contribution was the confirmation that the overall delivery of HEMS services in Ireland is consultant-led but the service is delivered by highly-trained advanced paramedics. She also stated: "emergency medicine consultants, with considerable experience in pre-hospital emergency medicine ... undertake a number of rotations each week on HEMS aircraft."

As can be imagined, however, it is very different to be an emergency-trained doctor in the environment of a helicopter. We have the talent and expertise available from the members of this expert medical group. They have gone out of their way in the last few years to really campaign for and secure this trial. I am delighted the Taoiseach made this announcement and will meet the expert group. I would like the Department of Health, however, to reassure me that the expertise available in the expert group will be utilised-----