I again ask the Taoiseach to address this issue today. I appeal to him to indicate, as an appropriate gesture on his part, that he will invite the families of the Stardust victims to meet him and indicate his willingness to establish a new investigation as all the pointers show that is what is required and what the families are requesting.

Is the Taoiseach aware that there has been no increase in the number of fire brigade ambulances for the city and county of Dublin since 1986? Over the same period there has been an increase in the number of emergency calls requiring ambulances from 26,000 to over 80,000 last year, yet the same number of ambulances are expected to cater to that voluminous demand from the wider public in moments of great need.

There is no point in adopting a defensive position on ambulance cover. Will the Taoiseach not accept that this need was never more obvious than on 21 February 2004 at Wellington Quay, when five poor citizens were mown down by a city bus? The emergency services required the despatch of eight ambulances on that occasion, leaving only three within the fire brigade service which is the first point of call-out in this city. If another emergency of similar proportion, smaller or, God forbid, even worse, were to happen within the county of Dublin, the service would not be able to cope. That is the reality. What will the Government do to address this glaring need before we find ourselves facing another avoidable tragedy?

In recent years there have been a number of occasions when, unfortunately, the emergency services were called upon to respond. The emergency plan was effective on those occasions, including the one mentioned by the Deputy, as was ambulance cover. Dublin fire brigade staff are qualified medical technicians. In addition to ambulance crews, every fire engine crew member can administer medical assistance to casualties. They are a sophisticated, well organised and disciplined group. I do not know how many requests come in for the service, but I have looked at the number of personnel involved, the extent of the resources and how the service has developed over the years, and it is impressive. Most of the stations have been rebuilt and modernised over the years.

On the main point raised by the Deputy, the evidence produced by the families and the committee has been examined extensively. In November 2004 it was considered that there was nothing to warrant further investigation within the ambit of that evidence. The further evidence given by the families is currently being examined. The Minister has made it clear that he is prepared to continue contact with the committee and the Garda on the forensic science. The question of meeting me has never been a problem. I met many members, but not the organised committee, for a different reason. I am always happy to meet groups and will be pleased to do so if it helps the situation. It is not the case that a report has not been brought forward and examined. The new evidence is currently being examined and if anything new comes up, the Government is prepared to look at it.