Ambulance wait in Castleblayney
Senator Joe O'Reilly interjected on the order of response, and the Leader said the reported three-hour ambulance delay was outrageous and deserving of debate.
Yes, if the Leader could supply the information first and then we will do it.
Comment on this
No problem - we will work on that.
Senator Gallagher spoke about an 11-year-old in Castleblaney who was waiting three hours for an ambulance. That is an outrageous wait time. It is unacceptable. I am not sure how that happened but I imagine, as it has happened in my own area, often ambulances are dispatched to certain calls in the full knowledge they will never actually get there but they meet the dispatch time requirement. This takes away from having an ambulance close by when there is a real need for one. We will certainly request a debate on that. As there was a request for a debate on health and the winter plan as well, we will try to get a debate on health more generally to cover those issues.
Senator Mark Daly expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Flor O'Mahony as Leas-Chathaoirleach, and to Damien O'Reilly, as did other colleagues.
Senator Martin concluded the Order of Business by raising the issue of Loch Neagh and requested a debate with the Tánaiste regarding the political situation in Northern Ireland. I will make that request and will try to organise a debate at the earliest opportunity. I thank all Members for raising issues today.