Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I can assure the Deputy that the Defence Forces undermined nobody's authority. They were called upon on an emergency basis, which I very much welcome. That is their role. I have no doubt that if firefighters in the Deputy's constituency were on strike and her house went on fire she would very much welcome, in the event of the county council not being available to put out the fire, the Defence Forces being able to do so.

The Defence Forces are there to be called upon in such circumstances. It has happened on other occasions. The most recent instances in which they have provided assistance or have been on standby to assist in maintaining essential services during industrial disputes was in 2002 when assistance was provided to Dublin City Council during the Ballymun lifts dispute. In 2003 assistance was provided to Donegal County Council during threatened industrial action by the Northern Ireland fire services. In 2002 they were on standby for a threatened national strike involving retained firefighters. In 2002 and 2003 assistance was provided to the midlands and south-eastern health boards during ambulance disputes. In 2004 defence forces medical doctors provided assistance to the Irish Prison Service during a medical doctors strike. In 2005 it was on standby to provide assistance to the Irish Prison Service in the event of a strike by prison officers. In 2007 it was on standby for a threatened strike by retained firefighters in Ennis, County Clare. In 2010 assistance was provided to Dublin City Council during the Ballymun lift dispute.

It is a civic duty of the Defence Forces that if such disputes arise they come into play. They will respond to all requests for assistance from any local authority, fire service or health service. They carry out their training in a very professional manner to be ready and able to assist.

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