Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Up to 1.2 million people across Dublin depend on the Dublin Fire Brigade emergency medical services. Dubliners proudly support Dublin Fire Brigade. This is evident from the rally that took place last night outside City Hall, Dublin. Those at the rally were supported by each grouping on the council, including the group of the Minister's party, Fine Gael.

In fact, Dubliners have proudly supported Dublin Fire Brigade since its inception. It is the oldest uniformed organisation in the country. In 1705, for the first time, four mechanical units were given to fight fire in the city. In 1898, what we know today as the Dublin fire rescue and emergency ambulance service was established in Winetavern Street in the Liberties in Dublin 8. It has continued unbroken service to the people of Dublin since then.

Senior management at Dublin City Council, led by the chief executive, Mr. Owen Keegan, have decided to change this. They have decided to fix what is not broken. They are going to break it up and they want to remove the ambulance call and dispatch function. Cén fáth? Why would this be the case? Why disrupt an incredible, efficient and necessary service?

Members of the fire brigade are present today. The rest of them are out fighting and saving lives. They are first responders. They have come because they are so incensed by what is going on and how they are being treated, especially by Dublin City Council. They are highly-trained paramedics. They use emergency vehicles and operate a highly-efficient and dedicated call and dispatch centre that consolidates all fire and emergency calls. The linkage of the call and dispatch centre with paramedics and emergency vehicles means that both ambulances and fire and rescue vehicles can be sent simultaneously to situations where they are required. We have car crashes daily from early morning to late at night. The current set-up means that fire operations can also act as emergency cover if the ambulance is not available.When we make or receive 999 calls as nurses, the fire brigade comes to the rescue of people in need 90% of the time. Dublin Fire Brigade provides a world-class service and has the second fastest response time in Europe. Its gold standard model has been adopted in Berlin, Tokyo and Paris. The fire service in London sent staff to Dublin to conduct research on this model and is about to implement the same service. Lo and behold, on a whim, the CEO of Dublin City Council, Mr. Owen Keegan, using a reserved function has decided to take this away.

The Minister of State will refer to the HIQA report and its findings regarding the improvement in ambulance response times throughout the city and county, but he must recognise that the expert report dealt adequately with all of the queries, difficulties, scenarios and nuances with which HIQA came up and that there is no need for HIQA to implement its report. That could be recognised by HIQA, but it certainly needs to be recognised by the Minister of State and the senior Minister. It is imperative that this service be retained. I ask the Minister to address the dispute and avert the final option of two days of strike action. The industrial action would spread nationwide. First responders are respected, as are all 24-hour emergency service staff, including nurses, doctors and gardaí. They are the essential fabric of this society and Dubliners are proud to support the fire officers who will be supported by every last man, woman and child in the city if they choose to take industrial action.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I welcome the fire service staff who are present and commend them for their work.

I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister of Health who offers his apologies, to provide an update for the House on the current discussions about ambulance services in Dublin. The HIQA report on ambulance services which was published in December 2014 highlighted significant public safety issues arising from two ambulance services operating in the same domain. The report identified concerns about the existence of two separate control and dispatch processes and also highlighted the need for greater clinical governance of both services. It pointed clearly to the need for enhanced integration of service provision in the greater Dublin area.

The capacity review published last year examined overall ambulance resource levels and distribution against demand and activity. It identified deficits in ambulance capacity, including in the Dublin area. It also identified the requirement for the migration of all call taking and the dispatch of ambulances in Dublin to the National Emergency Operations Centre to ensure a safer and more responsive service. We all agree that we want such a service. Implementation of the recommendations made in the capacity review requires a multi-annual programme of phased investment in ambulance manpower, vehicles and technology. To this end, increased funding has been made available for ambulance services in the HSE national service plan 2017. New resources will go into the services this year.

The Dublin ambulance services review which was jointly commissioned by the HSE and Dublin City Council is focused on identifying a service model for the optimal provision of emergency ambulance services and patient care in the Dublin region, including service quality, patient safety, capacity and value for money. Late last week a copy of the final review, as well as a joint HSE and Dublin City Council implementation plan, was submitted to the Department's Secretary General. The report and implementation plan are under consideration. Departmental officials are engaging with their counterparts in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on the report and implementation plan, with a view to agreeing a position on the appropriate way forward prior to the submission of the report and a proposed approach to their respective Ministers. With regard to the expert panel referred to by the Senator, my information is that following publication of the HIQA report in 2014, Dublin City Council established a trade union consultative forum to work towards securing agreement on a model of operation to address the recommendations made in the report. The forum established an expert panel which prepared a report that provided an alternative proposal on call taking and dispatch functions. It is understood the expert panel proposed a technical solution to link the Dublin Fire Brigade call centre with the National Emergency Operations Centre. The Department of Health has been advised that the various options for call taking and dispatch were examined by the Health Service Executive and Dublin City Council in the context of preparation of the implementation plan.

I am disappointed at media reports this morning that strike notice has been served on Dublin City Council. The action proposed is not in the best interests of patients who would be better served through engagement to reach agreement on a way forward. I urge everyone involved in the process to do so.

Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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I dispute and reject the emotional blackmail being directed at 24/7 first responders. It is similar to what occurred when nurses voted to strike. The only interest shown at the time was in who had died. The Minister of State takes a similar line in arguing that only patients will suffer. Firefighters do not take industrial action lightly. They have been forced into doing so and the Minister of State should not use emotional language when discussing the dispute. His response contained many anomalies.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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If the Senator will bear with me for one moment, I will explain the position. The Minister of State is speaking on behalf of the senior Minister.

Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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That is unfortunate.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Two of my sons are firefighters and I understand where they are coming from. However, a time limit applies to contributions.

Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister of State to take note of the emotional language used in the reply he gave. He indicated that departmental officials had engaged with Dublin City Council and the HSE on the back of the HIQA report. Why are they not engaging with the experts and professionals working at the coalface who know about value for money? They also know what response is needed for patients and their families in this city. Why did Dublin City Council use its reserved function to collapse the negotiations that had been taking place for two years? No explanation was given for the collapse of the talks in January. Trade unions cannot be prevented from using their strength and taking industrial action. The Minister of State has indicated that the expert panel report was examined. It is obvious that the expert panel was not listened to and that we are coasting along in the hope the issue will not be raised in this Chamber or resolved for the good of Dublin and society as a whole.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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As I stated, the Minister of State is substituting for the line Minister and may not have all of the answers.

Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
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In that case, this discussion is pointless.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I reject the Senator's comments on the use of emotional blackmail. I commended the work of Dublin Fire Brigade and welcomed firefighters to the Seanad. I am well aware of the great work they do, but I would like them to become more directly involved and engage with the issues. Like the Senator, I am a former Dublin city councillor and familiar with the current city manager, having dealt with him on many issues. There is no coasting along in this dispute. I will convey the Senator's views and concerns to the Minister.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State and I listened to the impassioned case made by Senator Máire Devine. I am sure the Minister of State will convey her sentiments to the senior Minister.