Mary Butler
Waterford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Major improvements are happening across services: enhanced access to proactive and preventive healthcare to support a better quality of life; the embedding and upscaling of women's health initiatives put in place through the implementation of the previous women's health action plans, including, as the Senator knows, free contraception, sp…”
“In relation to any proposal, a proposal for a new location requires a detailed business case, a premises, support from the regional HSE management, and the necessary funding to resource the staffing of the service. That is where I come into it and what I will be trying to do.”
“We are currently working closely with it to support the expansion of Jigsaw services to Waterford and the south east, as well as to County Clare. The location of Waterford was picked because we have no services in the south east at all. It is great that we will have the hub and spoke model the Senator spoke about.”
“That is where I do not agree with the Senator. I believe €180 million of funding ring-fenced for women's health, when we have come from a low base, is absolutely unbelievable.”
“The plan will build on our knowledge of women's health through research and innovation and will spotlight important areas such as endometriosis and cardiovascular health. Recently, the Minister announced €2 million in funding for women's health research.”
“This plan will continue to focus on how we can improve access to specialist endometriosis care and treatment. As the Senator knows, we have established two super-regional specialist centres, one in Tallaght University Hospital and another in Cork, alongside the development of five regional endometriosis hubs.”
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“We have to address these issues head-on and fully implement the recommendations outlined in the HIQA report to restore confidence in our paediatric healthcare services. Many Members have said it in the Chamber today; a huge amount of really good work goes on in paediatric services. There are hospitals across Dublin and the wider country where nurses and doctors are working tonight. They will do a night shift and go home to their own families in the morning. It is really important that we not be worried about governance issues. One has to be able to respect the services and management that are there, and be able to go home at night-time if one's child is sick knowing the child will be well looked after and that proper governance is in place. I compliment HIQA on the report it published three weeks ago.”
“The Minister attended the paediatric spinal task force meeting earlier this month. Yesterday and today, she had the opportunity to meet advocacy groups requesting that children, young people and families affected by spinal conditions, such as scoliosis and spina bifida, get the help and support they need in a timely manner. If one's child is attending a CAMHS team, has a disability or is waiting for early intervention in psychology, the family and the parent behind that are heartbroken. This is about very sick children. The families need our help. One of the Deputies mentioned the effect this had on the mental health of a parent or family when they were waiting for supports and the challenges those people faced.”
“Lives and lived experience are matters I talk about a lot as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. I heard Deputy Brian Brennan speak about his son and family and the challenges he has with his young boy. It is important that we hear all these stories. The majority of Deputies are either aunts or uncles, mothers or fathers, or brothers or sisters. We cannot underestimate the importance of the lived and living experience, which is why I welcome that the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has listened to the advocacy groups and the experiences they have shared. She has listened with concern to issues that I have raised and other TDs have brought to her attention, each one a reminder of the real-life story behind every single case.”
“I thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for highlighting the ongoing challenges we are addressing in paediatric healthcare services in our country. Like everyone in government, I am deeply concerned by the issues that have come to light regarding Children's Health Ireland and the use of unapproved medical devices in spinal surgeries at Temple Street university hospital. This incident has understandably caused significant distress among the families affected and has raised serious questions about the governance and oversight within CHI. My first concern is for the children and families who have been impacted by these failings. The trust that parents place in our healthcare services to provide safe and effective treatment for their children is paramount, and it is clear that this trust has been breached.”
“It is always a consultant psychiatrist working a the multidisciplinary team who will determine whether a child meets the criteria or not. I also meet families who cannot understand why their children do not meet the criteria. We also have a lot of children presenting with a dual diagnosis whereby there is a mental health issue in addition to autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder----”
“I thank the Deputy for her question. This year, €160 million has been allocated to the 81 child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, teams across the country. That includes five eating disorder teams for young people. An additional €3 million has been allocated for a waiting list initiative. Yesterday, I visited two CAMHS teams, one in Ashbourne, County Meath, and the other in Swords, County Dublin. I visited three teams in Cork in the past three weeks as well. I am taking an approach of going to meet teams to find out exactly where the challenges lie. The Deputy is quite right in what she said. There are a lot of referrals to CAMHS but the number of acceptances from referrals varies across teams.”
“To be clear on the agenda, we have statements on Children's Health Ireland for 202 minutes at 4.30 this evening and Sinn Féin is then bringing forward a Private Members’ motion on unnecessary hip surgeries, so the Minister will be in the House discussing health issues for five hours this evening.”
“-----and it is also scheduled for next week. In response to Deputy Collins, I am in discussion with the Minister to schedule this issue as soon as possible. I accept and acknowledge that he has raised it several times. We can discuss it at the Business Committee on Thursday morning.”
“My apologies. The point I want to get to is that three of the items that were raised on the Order of Business for this week are not on the agenda, so we will discuss those at the Business Committee on Thursday morning as per usual The Minister will take statements on the Farrelly report and the Grace case tomorrow-----”
“the Statements on International Worker's Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: ( a ) the arrangements for the statements, not including the ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and ( c ) members may share time. Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 10 10 3 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 10 10 3 9 10 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 3 9 10 3 5”
“the statements on the Farrelly commission report shall be interrupted and stand adjourned after 2 hours and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: ( a ) the arrangements for the statements shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); ( b ) any speaking slots which are not reached may be taken on Wednesday, 7th May, 2025, in accordance with the agreed sequence; and ( c ) members may share time; and Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 35 25 15 15 5 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 15 15 5 12 15 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 5 12 15 5 8 4.”
“and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion thereof; and ( b ) the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday 7th May, 2025; 2. the proceedings on the motion re restoration of Private Members’ Bills shall be taken without debate; 3.”
“the proceedings on Committee Stage of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall be taken either at 5.45 p.m. or on the conclusion of the motion re first revision to the national planning framework (NPF), whichever is the later, and shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 9 p.m. or after 3 hours, whichever is the later. In relation to Thursday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. ( a ) the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent: (i) no motion for a committee report pursuant to Standing Order 111 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 169 shall be taken; and (ii) topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m.”
“the proceedings on the motion re first revision to the national planning framework (NPF) shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and the following arrangements shall apply thereto: ( a ) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: (i) the arrangements for the speeches, not including the ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); and (ii) following the speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and ( b ) members may share time; and Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 15 12 5 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 15 12 5 12 12 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 5 12 12 5 8 5.”
“the proceedings on the motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on Orders of Reference and Establishment of Committees shall be taken without debate; 3. the proceedings on the motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the opt-in to amending regulation on insolvency proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto: ( a ) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:- opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State – 10 minutes; speeches by representatives of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group – 7.5 minutes per party or group; speeches by non-party/group members – 7.5 minutes in total; and a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and ( b ) members may share time; 4.”
“Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 35 25 15 15 5 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 15 15 5 12 15 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 5 12 15 5 8 In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent: ( a ) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time, which may be taken later than 8.45 p.m.; and ( b ) the weekly division time shall be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Provided that where the proceedings on that Bill conclude within the allotted time, the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; 2.”
“and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the statements on Children’s Health Ireland, with consequential effect on the commencement times for parliamentary questions to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and topical issues; 2. the statements on Children’s Health Ireland shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: ( a ) the arrangements for the statements, not including the ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and ( c ) members may share time.”
“or after 3 hrs, whichever is the later ) Wednesday's Private Members' business shall be the motion re special education, selected by the Labour Party. Thursday’s business shall be: - Motion re restoration of Private Members’ Bills - Statements on the Farrelly commission report ( to adjourn after 2 hrs ) - Statements on International Workers’ Day ( not to exceed 2 hrs and 25 mins ) Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business: In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent: ( a ) the Dáil may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and ( b ) Private Members' business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m.”
“I move: Tuesday’s business shall be statements on Children's Health Ireland ( not to exceed 3 hrs and 32 mins ) Tuesday's private members' business shall be motion re unnecessary hip surgeries at Children’s Health Ireland, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on Orders of Reference and Establishment of Committees - Motion re opt-in to amending regulation on insolvency proceedings ( to conclude within 60 minutes ) - Motion re first revision to the national planning framework (NPF) ( to conclude within 3 hours ) - Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Committee Stage) ( to commence no earlier than 5.45 p.m. and, if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 9 p.m.”
“We will certainly, however, see if there is an opportunity to debate the HIQA report in the Dáil this week. I will have to discuss that with the Minister.”
“With regard to committees, the Dáil reform committee, as agreed, will begin the process of establishing committees tomorrow evening, as Deputies are aware. The Government submitted the list of committees to the Dáil reform committee today and we are happy to discuss this at the meeting of the Dáil reform committee tomorrow evening. We will select the committees on Thursday morning, as was agreed with all the Whips last Thursday. Questions were raised about the HIQA report and agriculture. I know Deputy Collins raised the matter of agriculture last week too, but there is only a set amount of time every week. We have allocated three and a half hours to the tariffs discussion, which was the main focus of all the Whips when we met last Thursday.”
“in relation to any resumed proceedings on Second Stage of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025, the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 6.58 p.m. or after 1 hour and 34 minutes, whichever is the later, and the order of speaking and allocation of time on the first speaking round shall be as follows: (i) the speaking slots from Tuesday’s arrangements for the first round shall be continued from the point at which they were adjourned; and (ii) members may share time; and (b) the proceedings shall not be resumed on Thursday.”
“the Statements on Uisce Éireann shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: (a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time; and Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 35 25 15 15 5 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 15 15 5 12 15 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 5 12 15 5 8 3.”
“and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of the resumed proceedings on Second Stage of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025, or where those proceedings conclude within the allotted time, on the conclusion thereof, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and (b) the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 29th April, 2025; 2.”
“and shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 9 p.m. or after 3 hours, whichever is the later. In relation to Thursday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. (a) the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent: (i) the Dáil shall meet at 10.23 a.m.; (ii) Questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Questions to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall be taken as the first item of business; (iii) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 111 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 169 shall be taken; and (iv) topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m.”
“the Statements on Tariffs shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: (a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time; and Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 35 25 15 15 5 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 15 15 5 12 15 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 5 12 15 5 8 3. the resumed proceedings on Committee Stage of the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall commence no earlier than 5.30 p.m.”
“and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time; and (b) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the weekly division time, which may be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Provided that where the proceedings on that Bill conclude within the allotted time, the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; 2.”
“notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours. In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as set out in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders is modified to the following extent: (a) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m.”
“in relation to the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025, the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 2 hours and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows: (i) the arrangements for the first speaking round shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down); (ii) any speaking slots on the first round which are not reached may be taken on Thursday in accordance with the agreed sequence; and (iii) members may share time; and (b) the proceedings shall not be resumed on Tuesday; and Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 20 20 20 12 4 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 20 12 4 20 12 SF ITG Gov SF NP/G Mins 4 20 12 4 20 3.”
“and shall, in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Second Stage of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025, or where those proceedings conclude within the available time, on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Education, and topical issues, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; 2.”
“Thursday’s business shall be: - Statements on Uisce Éireann (not to exceed 3 hrs and 32 mins) - Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at 6.58 p.m. or after 1 hr and 34 mins, whichever is the later). Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business: In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that private members’ business may be taken earlier than 6.12 p.m.”
“I move: Tuesday’s business shall be Second Stage of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 (to adjourn after 2 hours). Tuesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Statements on Tariffs (not to exceed 3 hrs and 32 mins) - Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Committee Stage, section 5, resumed) (to commence no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and to adjourn either at 9 p.m. or after 3 hours, whichever is the later). Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Protecting the Irish Economy against increasing Trade Tariffs, selected by the Independent Technical Group.”
“Across the board, mental health and ID teams are led by consultant psychiatrists who can deal with psychiatry and intellectual disability and it only takes four members of staff across the team. My understanding is that the consultant is in place and the auxiliary staff are being recruited at the moment. However, I understand the urgency of this area. What I have tried to do in the past five years with the 44% increase in all the various budgets is to build incrementally. There are two new mental health ID teams this year, along with two eating disorder teams and four ADHD teams for adults. They are being built incrementally. The pay and numbers strategy will not be an issue because these posts are ring-fenced.”
“I am determined to make further progress through the national office for child and youth mental health in the HSE, which as developed a new youth mental health action plan, published in February. This three-year plan for comprehensive reform across all youth mental health services sets out a roadmap to ensure all children and families have the pathway we have discussed. The new action plan aims to enhance integrated care across youth services, including supporting children and young people who have co-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health needs, which is the area we have been talking about. I checked out the mental health with intellectual disability, ID, team last week after the Deputy raised it in the Dáil. Mental health ID teams are a little different from CAMHS. They are multidisciplinary and might have nine to 12 positions.”
“Lots of parents come to me as well with the same situation. They feel their child probably does not sit in either service but they need the support of both. That is where it is becoming problematic. It is an area we are focusing on because we need to. When CAMHS teams were set up originally, autism was not as significant an issue as it is now. A Minister of State, I will put a strong focus on that to support those families because all they want is a pathway. I acknowledge that today is World Autism Awareness Day.”
“Prior to this, there was a lot of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation, but there has been a definite swing towards ADHD and autism. It is important that we prioritise the area more. When information indicates that there is more than one HSE service that could best meet the needs of the child or adolescent, consultation should take place to determine which is the most appropriate service or whether a joint approach to assessment and intervention is indicated. In order to ensure a person-centred pathway to meet the needs of children with a complex disability and their families, the HSE and Tusla have a joint working protocol to promote best outcomes for children known to either one or both agencies. There is strong collaboration to ensure the needs of these young people are met.”
“In plain language, a young person who receives support from CAMHS normally has a primary mental health diagnosis. Then, there can be a secondary diagnosis for autism or other condition. I agree with the Deputy that there is no doubt it is a challenging area for many families of children who have more than one diagnosis. Sometimes, they might be refused entry to one service while they are on a waiting list for another. On Monday of this week, I visited three different CAMHS teams in the south of the country as part of a process whereby I am currently visiting CAMHS teams. It is interesting to hear that the presentations have changed. Almost 55% of all presentations are linked to ADHD, but a big percentage of presentations are also linked to autism.”
“Approximately 2% of children and young people require support from this specialist service, with more than 90% of the mental health needs of younger people being successfully treated in a primary care setting. I acknowledge that there are children and adolescents with complex care issues who may present, for example, with a moderate-to-severe mental health difficulty in addition to presentations such as an intellectual disability or autism. While the needs of children with autism are often best met by HSE primary care and children's disability network teams - the CDNTs - where a child or adolescent presents with a moderate-to-severe mental health difficulty, regardless of whether the child also has autism, it is the role of CAMHS to provide appropriate multidisciplinary assessment and treatment for the mental health difficulty.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Murchú very much for raising this important issue to specifically discuss the care of children with autism who also have mental health issues. In addition, I acknowledge the Deputy's constant advocacy in this area. We have had many exchanges and discussions on trying to provide services. I acknowledge the case of the young person he mentions, whom he also mentioned last week in the Dáil. As the Deputy is aware, our child and adolescent mental health services are for those aged up to 18 years and who have a moderate-to-severe mental health difficulty. Access to CAMHS is on the basis of prioritised clinical assessment. All referrals to CAMHS are assessed by a multidisciplinary team.”
“Community paramedics respond to low-acuity calls to facilitate more appropriate use of emergency care resources and enhance access to care for patients, contributing to more favourable health outcomes. I am informed that it is planned to include County Clare in this year's roll-out. I understand the point Deputy Crowe makes. We all have experience of situations where we have to call an ambulance, for example, for an elderly parent. It can be very distressing. I assure the Deputy that there has been no change to the National Ambulance Service roster in County Clare in recent months. It is important to put that on the record of the Dáil. There has been no reduction in service levels in County Clare. Triage is a very difficult situation. I compliment all those who work across the country as first responders. They do an amazing job.”
“As well as front-line urgent and emergency care, the NAS is also developing and expanding a range of clinically appropriate alternative care pathways to improve patient flow and reduce pressure on busy hospital emergency departments. The medical assessment unit, MAU, pathway for 999 patients introduced in Ennis Hospital treats patients referred by GPs, out-of-hours services, including Shannondoc, and National Ambulance Service paramedics. Last year, the NAS transported 430 patients to mid-west MAUs, including Ennis. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the NAS plans to roll out additional community paramedics this year to various areas of the country.”
“Performance in both call categories last year represents an improvement on performance in 2023. The nub of the issue is that, in line with international best practice, the National Ambulance Service deploys resources nationally, including in Clare, dynamically. This means that it prioritises resource allocation to the highest acuity calls, which require an immediate emergency response in direct response to patient needs. The National Ambulance Service's dynamic deployment means that Clare may also be supported by bases from neighbouring counties to ensure adequate coverage and rostering for emergency ambulances and rapid response vehicles.”
“Despite a significant increase in demand, ambulance response performance has improved nationally and in the National Ambulance Service mid-west region, including Clare, compared to its performance in 2023. The HSE national service plan sets out key performance indicators for cardiac or other potentially life-threatening calls to be responded to by ambulance in fewer than 90 minutes. In 2024, the National Ambulance Service's national performance for HSE key performance indicators, KPIs, was 73% against a target of 75% for purple calls, that is, life-threatening cases and 46% against a target of 45% for red calls, that is, calls to be responded to by an ambulance in less than 90 minutes. In the mid-west region, the National Ambulance Service's performance met the purple call KPI of 75% and exceeded the red call KPI of 49%.”
“It has five active community first responder groups operating in the county, as well as aeromedical support provided by the HSE helicopter service based in Rathcoole, County Cork, and the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue service from its base in Shannon. Patient demand for the National Ambulance Service continues to rise nationally and in the western region, which covers Clare. In 2024, there were nearly 430,000 urgent and emergency calls received from the public, representing an 8% increase nationally on the previous year. In the National Ambulance Service's western region, call volume similarly increased by 8%, or 7,781 calls, during the same period.”
“As far as County Clare is concerned, the National Ambulance Service serves the county from bases located in Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Scarriff. These bases are staffed by a highly skilled workforce of pre-hospital emergency care practitioners, including paramedics, advanced paramedics and emergency medical technicians. In addition, the National Ambulance Service operates a fleet of modern emergency ambulances, intermediate care vehicles and rapid response vehicles from these bases. County Clare also benefits from the National Ambulance Service's national emergency operation centre clinical hub.”
“I again wish to express our deepest condolences to the Deputy on the death of Mary, his mother-in-law, and to the Fehilly and Crowe families. I also want to acknowledge the spirit in which he has raised these issues because at no stage did he criticise the men and women of the National Ambulance Service or our other first responders. Rather, he asked real questions, which he hopes will be addressed. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, regarding the Deputy's request for information on the National Ambulance Service's capacity in the County Clare region. This year's allocation to our National Ambulance Service of €285 million includes €8 million in new service developments to deliver up to 180 additional posts, representing a significant increase on the 2024 allocation.”
“The Government is about respecting the rights of Deputies democratically elected to this Hous - all of them. We take our direction from the people, the people who voted for us last November urging us to form a Government and run the country. It is from the people that we take our orders, not from Belfast or anywhere else.”
“They objected to that. We put it to a vote and they lost. Sinn Féin has a chequered view of the ballot box and it really only plays second fiddle to its agenda. Its stated objective is to undermine the Dáil and Government and create mayhem. We know of its lack of loyalty to the institutions of the State.”
“The Deputies opposite believe they have a veto. Let me say there is no such veto. We all fought an election and the people had their say. We came together on this side of the House to form a Government and those opposite tried to disrupt the process and lost. We put forward modest changes to Standing Orders to ensure everyone's mandate in the Dáil would be respected.”
“Now they believe that because a decision did not go their way, they can put the confidence back into display and choose no confidence instead. With all the challenges facing our country, the parties opposite choose to grandstand on this. What we have witnessed from the combined Opposition, led by the Sinn Féin troops and aided by serial hard left, is a situation where, unless the minority on the other side of the House is in agreement, we get not total opposition but attempts at chaos, disruption and bullying, and made-up complete untruths about nods and winks and even thumbs up.”