Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The professions of paramedic and advanced paramedic are separate and individual. An advanced paramedic is able to insert cannulas into veins or arteries to administer pain relief or lifesaving drugs. The current search and rescue supplier in Ireland, CHC, uses advanced paramedics and has advanced paramedics on its crews. This means when they go to the most remote areas in Ireland to pick up people in accidents or for medical transfers, they are able to provide first-line medical treatment. The contract just awarded to Bristow Group requires that a transfer of undertaking take place. In other words, all of the staff from CHC would transfer to Bristow and be trained up on the new helicopter for use. However, I have heard, and this needs to be verified quickly, that Bristow does not intend to use advanced paramedics. It will only use paramedics on its aircraft, which means when they will not be able to administer lifesaving drugs when they arrive at an incident. This is a very serious matter and I ask the Acting Leader to send it straight to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. If the contract was changed to allow for paramedics only, why did that happen? Is it a cost-saving feature? Did the contract change? Will we have advanced paramedics? I certainly believe the people on the Aran Islands and the islands off the coast of County Donegal and the west of Ireland in general will want advanced paramedics coming to treat them. It will be similar for those who find themselves in road accidents. County Donegal, which has very remote areas, is famous for road accidents. In a situation like that the person arriving in a helicopter is often the first responder who can get to a place an ambulance cannot. People in need of lifesaving drugs that have to be administered intravenously or intra-arterially require an advanced paramedic. Has Bristow taken it upon itself to decide it will not pay the cost of advanced paramedics? We really have to get to the bottom of this. I ask the office of the Leader to make contact with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and report back to the House because all of us have an interest in where we are with respect to advanced paramedics and the availability of advanced paramedics for the forthcoming search and rescue contract. I think the first one comes into service around October of this year.