Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise a couple of issues. I recognise the appointment of Senator Seán Kyne as Deputy Leader. I wish him well and look forward to working with him in the Seanad. Last Saturday, an individual collapsed at the Cliffs of Moher. My understanding is that the individual passed away. It took over an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the scene. We often talk in this House about metrics for how services are delivered and the standard time for an ambulance to arrive, usually in populated, built-up areas, of eight, ten or 12 minutes. It has to be wholly unacceptable for it to take an hour for an ambulance to reach an individual who has collapsed. I am not suggesting that the patient's life could have been saved but, certainly, an effort could have been made if there was a speedier response. I would like a debate in this House on the National Ambulance Service and the level of service available in areas outside the populated areas. Much has been invested in recent years to upgrade various facilities and put in place more highly trained personnel, which is to be welcomed, but for a situation to develop where it could take up to an hour for an ambulance to arrive at the scene is wholly unacceptable. I would like a debate at the earliest possible opportunity.

On a secondary matter, I called last week or the week before for a debate on dealing with the consolidation of Ukrainian refugees into new facilities. We know some have gone back and that there are gaps in the system. There is a situation yet again in County Clare where, in Loop Head, 25 or 26 Ukrainians were in a facility in Kilbaha. It is a wonderful area of the county which is very scenic and peaceful. They were totally integrated into the local community. Some issues have arisen and they are now being transferred to four different locations, so people who have spent 18 months together are being broken up. An elderly mother is being separated by 70 miles from her 35-year-old son who has a visual impairment. It seems wrong. I understand the pressure that the staff in these agencies are under. We saw it with the intake as well and the fighting against it. Before we start moving people back into other facilities, there should be a much more thorough level of engagement. Let us have engagement with public representatives too. We are not here to beat up people or beat on the hard work that staff are doing, but we absolutely need engagement and communication.I ask again for a debate on the ongoing management of the Ukrainian refugee population in this State.