Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Labour Party for facilitating me in contributing to this debate. In supporting this motion, I begin by adding to the tributes paid to the Bray firemen, Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy. On behalf of my party colleagues in the Oireachtas and of the organisation throughout the island, we offer our deepest sympathy to their families.

Their deaths remind us that fire fighting is a dangerous job. The attendance at their funerals and the outpouring of public sympathy were proof of the great esteem in which fire-fighters are held by the entire community. This makes it all the more important that the fire service is properly resourced, equipped and trained. It is unfortunately the case that fire-fighters are sometimes attacked during the course of their duty. All Members are aware of incidents in their community where fire-fighters responding to calls in certain areas come under attack. This is disgraceful and wrong and it must stop. Hopefully, the Bray tragedy will cause those responsible to reflect on their actions, particularly as Hallowe'en, which can be a particularly difficult time of the year for fire crews, approaches.

In supporting the motion's call for the establishment of a national fire authority, I emphasise that this is something my party has called for since 2004, a position we share with SIPTU, which represents Dublin firemen. Fire-fighters themselves recognise the need for an integrated training programme and common standards across the State. They are aware that the best way to ensure this is to establish a national fire authority with the responsibility to put those standards into place.

The failure to date to establish such an authority is puzzling as it would seem to require little ingenuity or initiative on the part of the Government. Failure to do so, however, not only affects the local service but also means that this State is in the embarrassing position of being unable to participate in international co-operation efforts. Other states do not believe Irish fire-fighters are trained to take part in operations, such as those in response to earthquakes and other natural disasters, because of the lack of a national training programme. That is not the fault of our fire-fighters but of the Government.

This lack of national co-ordination led to the embarrassing situation in April where fire-fighters from Dublin were brought in to deal with a fire on a ship off the Kerry coast. It is the case, however, that the Tralee fire service is fully equipped and has a trained crew to deal with chemical fires. I can only imagine that the decision was less of a calculated insult to the Kerry service than a simple lack of knowledge that the necessary expertise was available.

Another aspect of the unevenness of training is that the Dublin fire service is the only one in which all members are trained paramedics. This training must be extended to all parts of the country. It is mind boggling that fire-fighters throughout the island, with the exception of Dublin, have not had the opportunity to train as paramedics. In most cases where fire-fighters are called to the scene of serious accidents and so forth, such training is of invaluable importance.

There is also the issue of risk assessment, the absence of which at local level could prove to be disastrous in certain circumstances. For example, the Dublin fire service responded to an average of 200 calls per day in 2004. It is a credit to the service that its members were able to respond in such a professional manner to this challenge. However, the demands placed on the service could easily overstretch the available resources. It is vital that an up-to-date risk assessment is carried out so that resources can be tailored to likely demand. At a time when the fire service is in the news, it would be opportune for the Government to commit itself to ensuring that such risk assessments are carried out in every county.

Fire-fighters with whom Sinn Féin has spoken have also expressed dissatisfaction at the amount and condition of service vehicles and other equipment. They particularly stressed the inadequacy of the fire brigade ambulance fleet in Dublin, which they say would be unable to cater for even a small number of major incidents occurring at the same time. We must listen to what they have to say and act upon it. My party has called for an expansion of the fleet and the creation of a single ambulance service in Dublin.

The motion refers to the failure to implement the recommendations of the 2002 review conducted by Farrell Grant Sparks. Why such a review should have been commissioned if it was merely to be allowed gather dust is a mystery. Some of those involved in the service believe it merely confirms the ongoing indifference displayed by the Government towards the service. In the light of recent sad events, it is timely to set about implementing the recommendations of that review as a matter of urgency.

In the course of research for today's debate, I reviewed several press releases I have issued on this matter in recent years. One of these, dated 19 June 2006, reads:

It is clear that without substantial changes, a disaster — where our overstretched fire service is unable to respond adequately, resulting in substantial, and unnecessary loss of life — is not merely likely, it is inevitable. Despite repeated promises, the Government has failed to implement necessary reform.

I further asserted in this statement that the Government must stop prevaricating and ensure that the fire brigade service and its staff are fully supported so that we can have a service to meet our demands.

Sinn Féin believes there is an urgent need for a State-wide co-ordinating body for the 37 local fire authorities in the Twenty-six Counties. There are differences in training, equipment, policy and methodology across the local fire authorities, with approximately 220 fire stations in the Twenty-six Counties. The lack of such a body may explain the lack of emphasis placed by the Government on the fire services in contrast to other emergency services.

While reiterating the necessity of co-ordination between the various fire brigades in this State, my party would also like to see greater co-operation between the fire services on both sides of the Border. As with ambulance and accident and emergency services, such co-operation is a matter of common sense, makes for greater efficiency and, above all, improves the response rate of the emergency services.

The importance of the service provided by fire-fighters cannot be emphasised enough. No words of mine can adequately express the support they give us all. In the aftermath of the supreme sacrifice made by Brian and Mark to provide a vital service to their community, it is of great importance that we listen to the views of fire service staff. A national fire authority must be established and a co-ordinated approach devised to deal with the deficiencies in our service. Fire service staff must receive the resources to which they are entitled, and we all must work collectively to provide them with the support they needs to do their job. We must not act without consulting fire-fighters themselves as it is they who know what is required and who face the dangers every day. Reform can no longer be delayed. If we do not make the necessary changes, we will dishonour the sacrifice made by Brian and Mark.

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