Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Government, I acknowledge the presence of the families and friends of Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy, who have been with us for the past two nights. I extend my condolences to all those connected to the two men, including members of the fire service in Bray.

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to this debate and commend them on their measured approach thereto. Many points have been made by them on the provision of a fire service. The House is agreed that the fire services provide a great public service. The retained fire service is a highly trained, well-equipped and professional service. Together with the full-time service personnel, the personnel in the retained service serve their communities in every part of this country with the utmost dedication. I express the Government's gratitude to all of them tonight.

I wish to address several issues raised in the debate. I reiterate what the Minister said last night on the provision of a full-time fire service in Bray and elsewhere in the country. Some Deputies suggested the Government was in some way ignoring this issue by passing responsibility for decisions on the type of service provided locally to local fire authorities. The fact is that the provision of a fire service is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local fire authority.

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