Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

When the families met the previous Taoiseach, they were very grateful for the opportunity. They met twice, as has been said, but there was an expectation that those meetings would lead somewhere. Is the Taoiseach aware that prior to those meetings a statement was signed by all the local Deputies, including Government Deputies, and all the other key players in regard to the fire service in the county, calling on the Government and the Taoiseach to set up an independent inquiry, to set up a national fire authority and to provide a full-time service for areas of large population like Bray? That is the context.

Will the Taoiseach state in detail what has happened since that statement was made and since the families were brought to meet the previous Taoiseach? This matter has gone on for a long time and, if anything, the service has been deteriorating rather than improving as a result of people being out sick and numbers being reduced. People's concerns are heightened in the town of Bray in particular.

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