Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I regret that the amendment cannot be accepted. I hope common sense will prevail on the part of those deciding officers looking at this issue, given the intention to make a change and take heed of the special contribution retained firefighters make. This indication had been given previously by the Minister and I ask that it be heeded, particularly in cases where there is no other income and where people have exhausted all of their personal funding to survive and stay within the fire service. They have survived on their meagre resources or funding they have received for firefighting when they have been called out or on call. They have made their own appeals to the social welfare appeals office. I appeal for the adoption of a common-sense approach to the matter.

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