Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has strongly criticised the failure of Government and in particular the failure of the Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien to make good on widespread political expectations that he would be making a ‘positive statement’ with respect to the industrial action being taken by up to 2000 retained firefighters.
The Minister’s department has overall responsibility for setting general policy for firefighters and other related matters and for providing capital funding support for firefighting equipment and priority firefighting infrastructure projects.
Deputy Nolan was speaking after she contributed to a Dáil debate on the industrial action by retained firefighters which heard calls for Government to bring forward a financial investment package which allows for the creation of a new framework for service delivery for retained fire services, and for increased remuneration and better conditions for current and future members:
“I am not remotely surprised that the firefighters who were in the Dáil gallery during the Minister’s speech walked out in protest and disgust at having to listen to the Minister parrot warm words of admiration but without any substantial or meaningful actions to back them up,” said Deputy Nolan.
“There was a definite sense that he acted more like the Grinch who stole Christmas rather than the Minister who was going to announce a pathway toward resolution.”
“What is happening to our firefighters is a disgrace. Years of calls for reform and for improvements in the recruitment and retention issues have pushed these dedicated public servants to the edge resulting in an almost unprecedented threat of an all-out public strike later this month.”
“But we have been here before. In 2010 SIPTU retained fire-fighters employed by Offaly County Council were asked to ballot for industrial action over the closure of three fire stations in the county.”
“This happened after SIPTU retained fire-fighters were informed that it was intended to stand down the fire stations at Banagher and Daingean. The station at Kilcormac had been stood down in April of that year after Offaly County Council stated that the decision was taken because of insufficient funds necessary to keep the stations operational.”
“13 years later and we have come full circle. It is appalling. The demands of the firefighters must be met without delay. They are reasonable and proportionate and far from excessive given the level of service they provide.”
“The planned all-out industrial action cannot be allowed to take place. It would be a catastrophic failure of the industrial process and a direct result of the lack of political will that certainly will put lives at increased risk,” concluded Deputy Nolan.