John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response, which was more comprehensive than the response we got a month ago when this was raised by me and colleagues as a Topical Issue matter. I welcome a number of features of the response, first, that the Minister will discuss it with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government because, obviously, there is a key role for that Department. I also welcome his reference to solutions, in particular technological solutions.

I highlight once again that it is uncommon in modern Ireland for any profession to decide to take strike action, not over pay and conditions, but over a matter of principle and in defending a very strong tradition that the Dublin Fire Brigade and its ambulance service has maintained and upheld. It is out of conviction in regard to supporting this that my colleagues have continually sought to raise the issue. I take the Minister in good faith. He said no decision has been made by him as Minister for Health, and he committed to continuing to keep the House informed and to discussing the matter with Opposition spokespeople. We hope he will be as good as his word.

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