Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I also acknowledge the presence of members of the Murray and O'Shaughnessy families and their friends along with members of the fire service who are in the Gallery. I thank the leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Gilmore, for ensuring that this motion is debated tonight. When a terrible tragedy occurs it is important that it be acknowledged here in our national parliament. In this instance a terrible tragedy occurred when two fire fighters lost their lives in the line of duty. It occurred on 26 September in the town of Bray which I represent and in which I live.

Like every other resident I enjoy the protection and security provided by the men and women of the fire service in Bray. Over generations we have been proud of them and grateful to them. Now we grieve with them and offer whatever consolation we can. The death of two fine young men Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy has shocked and stunned our community to the core. Fire fighting always carries risks but a tragedy like this demands a response from the Government so that some good can come from this calamity. That is the purpose of our motion. I am disappointed that, instead of accepting this motion, the Government wants to amend it so that it will become essentially an empty gesture if passed. I am calling on all Deputies regardless of party affiliation to support the motion which sets out in concrete terms what must be done to provide a high quality fire service nationally as well as ensuring that areas of larger population, including Bray, will have a full-time fire service at last.

I say at last because this issue of a full-time service for Bray is not a new one. There have been other heavy losses of life in the past in our town — the deaths in the Cassidy family and in 2002 the deaths of Teresa and Christopher Cahill in particular. What was inexplicable to most people was that these fires occurred in a housing estate just across the road from the fire station. They led to a campaign spearheaded by Margaret Cahill, Teresa's sister. I pay tribute to Margaret Cahill and those around her on the action committee for a full-time fire service for their steadfast and at times lonely stand.

When this issue was debated by Wicklow County Council and Bray Town Council in 2001 much emphasis was placed on the expected publication of the Farrell Grant Sparks, FGS, report to ensure the right decisions would be made to meet the need. The report was published in 2002 and it recommended a new authority and new standards for the fire service nationally. It had the support of firefighters and fire chiefs and we waited for Government action but it never came. Five years on we are still waiting. A feasibility study was prepared by Wicklow County Council outlining various options. It was carried out with good intentions and I acknowledge the initiative of the then chairman, Joe Behan, who is now a Member of this House. However, in its amendment, the Government is using that feasibility study, which was presented in good faith, to avoid making decisions and that is simply not good enough.

Family members have stated that both Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy had spoken of the great need for a full-time fire service in Bray. Mrs. Murray revealed that only a week before the fire Brian had warned that a firefighter or a member of the public would die by the end of the year unless the fire service was overhauled. As their families mourn them, there is a strong desire among them and across the community that some good should come out of their awful loss. It is a mark of respect to both men that we raise this issue now. I was very struck by the oration at the graveside of Brian Murray when it was said that when a crisis occurred he always responded by saying, "We must do something". When 11 September occurred, he did something practical to raise support for the New York firefighters. The irony is that, comparatively on a population basis, Bray has suffered as great a loss of firefighters as New York did on 11 September. Brian's spirit lives on in his family in its clear and determined support for a full-time service so that something tangible and real can come out of such pain and loss.

As a young man dedicated to his profession who loved his job, Mark O'Shaughnessy also understood its importance. He epitomised the professionalism of the fire fighter and he wanted a full-time service in Bray. We need equal determination on the part of the Government to bring in the reforms set out in the FGS report, which the then Government promised to introduce five years ago. The then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Dempsey, acknowledged that 25 years had passed since there had been reforms and he said at the launch of the report:

With the passage of time and having regard to the vastly changed circumstances since the current regime was put in place, it was to be expected that service would be in need of a major overhaul at this point. The weaknesses identified in the report will have to be addressed.

The report recommended the establishment of a new national authority for fire and emergency planning services. New structures were also recommended at local authority level which would mirror the arrangements at national level. The report recommended bringing existing local authority fire services and building control functions together and ensuring more accountability. It also recommended national standards. The then Minister accepted the report stating:

My first priority will be to move towards implementation of the recommendations in the report which fall under the sole ambit of my Department and to consider how best to finance them. I will also discuss with my colleagues in Government, some of whose Departments are affected by the Report's recommendations, how best to carry those recommendations forward. I look forward to full co-operation from staff in the fire services where the Report recommends a significant shift in the way in which business is done — in particular a new interface with local communities. If the fire service is to prosper and to realise the potential seen for it in the Report, all stakeholders will have to press ahead in a genuine spirit of partnership.

I hope a genuine spirit of partnership is entered into in facing up to our responsibilities. The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, reappointed the then fire services council for a further six months to enable discussions and consultations to proceed and to progress arrangements for the new national fire authority. He clearly envisaged it would take six months to implement but, almost six years later, progress has not been made to live up to that promise and it has taken the deaths of two brave men to bring this issue to centre stage.

The FGS report set out the changing role of the fire service. Bray is a typical town, with a population of more than 30,000, which has changed and developed over recent decades. Its catchment area extends to Kilmacanogue and Enniskerry and its rural hinterland must also be serviced by the fire service. The submission made by the action committee for a full-time service in the town on the feasibility study is worth reading. I urge the Minister to read it because it defines in detail the needs of our area in terms of a full-time fire service. I have served as a councillor and I understand concerns about the cost local authorities must bear but the Government must deal with that. It is untenable that in a country as well off as ours such concerns are expressed and cost can prevent the establishment of the very best fire service nationwide.

The opening of the Ritz Carlton hotel in Enniskerry was postponed because of the deaths of Brian and Mark. When it eventually took place, the Taoiseach pointed out in his speech that the hotel cost €200 million to build. How is it we live in a society that can spend €200 million, albeit in privately raised money, on a luxury hotel while the same amount would provide almost 100 years of full-time service in Bray? Where are our priorities? This tragedy has set us a challenge, which must be met to ensure progress is made and good comes out of it.

The debate is not about blame. I have been asked by members of the media to apportion blame and to turn this into a political football but I have no intention of doing so. That would not do any good but it must be ensured that, while the issue is debated in our national Parliament and goes on public record for future generations to read, the Government responds to the motion in a way that matches the need. We should all share support for action to meet the requirements of a highly quality fire service, including a full-time service in areas of heavy population, including Bray. We should be able to come together on this motion. If we do, there would be no better or more fitting memorial to the memory of Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy and clearly it is the one they would have wished for themselves. I regret that we are having the debate in these circumstances but it is important that we acknowledge their sacrifice and the contribution of every fire-fighter and that we live up to the task they have set us.

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