Yesterday, I stood outside with paramedics who are protesting over the latest decision by the National Ambulance Service management. Every graduating class since the introduction of the paramedic studies course has seen an automatic move for paramedics from a purpose contract to a permanent contract but that no longer appears to be the case. It is incredible, given the number of paramedics we need, that the management would now be putting roadblocks in the way of paramedics. It looks like management is saying we have too many paramedics, when in fact we all know we need many more. I am becoming increasingly concerned by some of the decisions being made by the management of the National Ambulance Service, NAS. It is privileging courses. It stopped advanced paramedic training and then reintroduced it. There are serious concerns. I want to ask the Taoiseach specifically about the 80 fully qualified paramedics and the return to the move to a permanent contract. We need every one of them.

Sentiment score: -0.02