Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State is very welcome. For many years, communities across the country have come together to fundraise and install defibrillators, or automated external defibrillators, AEDs, as they are commonly known, for local community centres, sports facilities, schools, workplaces and public places.

In some areas, individuals and businesses have sponsored the price of a defibrillator. We are greatly indebted to them all, as I am sure the Minister of State will agree.

CFR Ireland is a national umbrella organisation for community first responder groups in Ireland. It is run by 4,000 volunteers organised in almost 350 local groups across the length and breadth of the country. These have access to 4,500 registered AEDs, although it is registered that there could be as many as 9,000 AED units located across the State. We owe this group of volunteers a huge debt of gratitude for being available 24-7 and attempting to save the lives of their neighbours. Everyone recognises the importance of the availability of AEDs to the survival of victims of heart attacks. They know how critical the first minutes can be and how an AED can both save a life and ensure a better recovery for the patient.

The news is that a particular but apparently common model of AED, the HeartSine Samaritan defibrillator, is experiencing a problem with shortage of batteries, a critical component that ensures that AEDs are available if needed to save a life. I understand there is currently a global shortage of defibrillator batteries, which is driven by local supply chain demands and raw materials shortages. This is affecting various models, particularly the HeartSine model, which faces long-term delays. These delays are a serious challenge for workplaces, schools and entire communities which need an automated life-saving external defibrillator, AED. Having a defibrillator in our communities is crucial to ensure that sudden cardiac arrest survivals remain high. Having an AED in our community with no battery is the equivalent of having no AED at all.

We have two major issues here. One is that we have a large number of defibrillators located the length and breadth of the country that people cannot get batteries for. The second is that only half of the 9,000 AEDs we have are registered. Someone needs to take control of this particular issue. We need to put in place a clear, structured and fully resourced strategy within the Department to ensure the oversight of AEDs is available and not solely left to volunteers. Someone needs to take charge of it. While community efforts have been invaluable, it is not sustainable, appropriate or fair to rely on goodwill when lives depend on these services. AEDs must be consistently accessible, visible and, more important, fully operational at all times. Proper systems and accountability are essential, so the maintenance and monitoring are carried out effectively, helping us to ensure and improve survival rates in emergencies.

We have a serious problem as the model in question is the predominant model used in this country. We are talking about saving lives. The problem I have is that for such an important issue, no one seems to be in charge. It is up to local volunteers, many of whom work and have families and busy lives, to check if batteries are in order and so on. They are then confused about who to go to. The problem is we have loads of these machines with no batteries, which effectively means we have nothing. Someone needs to take charge.

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who cannot be here today. I will outline the current position with regard to the provision of medical devices and aid appliances. In general, for the HSE, medical devices are purchased through the HSE procurement system. The HSE also provides a wide range of aids and appliances free of charge to eligible people following assessment by a health professional. These are provided through community-funded schemes and play a key role in assessing and supporting people to remain living in their homes and local communities. A national list, including prescribing criteria, can be found on the HSE website.

On the specific issue raised by the Senator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, is the agency in Ireland with responsibility for regulating medical devices for the benefit of patients. The Department of Health engages closely with the HPRA on its remit. Officials from the Department have reached out to the HPRA directly regarding this issue.

The HPRA has advised that it has not been informed of an interruption or discontinuation of supply of batteries and pads for HeartSine Samaritan defibrillators. In light of this request, the HPRA will now contact the manufacturer to further clarify the status of this issue.

As part of its role, the HPRA monitors field safety corrective actions associated with medical devices. These may include return of the device to the supplier, device modification device exchange, device destruction, retrofit or advice regarding use of the device. In this context, the HPRA is aware of several ongoing actions impacting the HeartSine Samaritan products. I will have to check that out and come back to the Senator. Depending on the nature of the issue, these field safety corrective actions may have an impact on product availability. As part of the HPRA’s evaluation of any such actions, there is engagement with the manufacturer to assess the impact of these issues and any other impact on supply. In addition to engaging with the HPRA, the Department of Health has engaged with the HSE for information. The National Ambulance Service has confirmed that it does not use the devices and is not impacted by this issue.

In light of this Commencement matter raised today, the Department will further engage with the HSE to discuss whether any substantive issues arise. This is a really important issue. I know myself how important it is to have defibrillators in communities. Like the Senator, I see it in my own home constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, where we have volunteers on a regular basis who give up their time to help save lives. I will definitely check into this. I am only taking this today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, but I feel it is a really important issue. I also want to thank everyone involved in this. With the amount of volunteers and goodwill in communities, it is exceptional how people are so good. I want to compliment them for the work they have done.

I appreciate the Minister of State is taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and this is not her line of responsibility. I think the response is deeply worrying in that it states the Minister is not aware of any disruption. That highlights exactly what our problem is here. I have had community groups on to me, volunteers who are deeply worried. They are checking these things in their own time and telling me they have no batteries and cannot get any. Apparently they are coming from the United States. The company involved has a base in Europe and no one can seem to get in contact with anybody in relation to this. The fact that the Minister for Health is not aware of it is deeply worrying and highlights the problem we have. I would be extremely grateful if the Minister of State would take back the concerns of many, including many in her own community, about this issue. Not having these batteries could be the difference between saving someone's life or not.

This is a really important issue. The Senator can be guaranteed that I will definitely go back to the Minister. I know that in light of the request today, the HPRA will contact the manufacturer to clarify the status of this issue and assess the impact of these issues or any implications for supply. The Department of Health will further engage with the HSE to keep this matter under review. The Senator is right. We need to get the answers. We need to know if there is an issue with the batteries and we need to get that sorted. I assure him that the Department will come back to him and I will highlight this really serious issue with the Minister. I thank the Senator again for highlighting this today.