Mr. Vincent Farr:

Volunteers are afraid to bring up legitimate issues, including simple things such as fundamental rights, natural justice and a duty of care. We work alongside full-time staff members who are paid. The volunteer has no rights and no respect given to them when they are dismissed or hauled through the coals. The actions of management have split villages, towns and cities. We need to change this. CUAG is not working. We have told management this numerous times. CUAG will not work because of its terms of reference, which state it is an advisory group. This is frustrating volunteers. We need to meet the Minister to explain our footing, which is we need to have something like the Garda representation group, an ombudsman or someone to whom we can turn to justify our claims. These people come from professional backgrounds and are volunteers. More and more is expected of volunteers, including when we step outside our procedures, which could involve minor things such a pair of shoes not being worn on the cliffs.

The fire service uses standard operating guidelines. It is left up to the individual to risk assess, if he or she needs to go out. Take the call in Doolin only the other day. If the volunteers did a proper risk assessment, they could step out with other members. They were not allowed do that because that culture of fear is being instilled in volunteers and now CUAG. I sat on CUAG several times, as did Mr. Griffin. We know what is happening. Management sets the agendas, takes the minutes and edits the minutes to suit itself. We know that. We can prove that and can show it here if the committee requires.