John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I do not think she is getting the point I am making. The legislation introduced in 2013 dealt with the specific circumstances around the employment of retained firefighters who are on call 24-7. That does not mean that they are dealing with emergency situations every day of the week. They may get a call once a week or, in certain circumstances, every six months. They do not know what will happen from one week to the next.

I will cite a specific local case, which is replicated across the State. I met retained firefighters in Dunlavin in my constituency of Wicklow, half of whom are in receipt of a jobseeker's payment. They have been dealing with case officers for up to 12 months. As they reach the end of the process, they are coming under pressure from case officers to take a job anywhere or they will be moved on to JobPath and that service will find a job for them. No consideration is given to the nature of their employment as retained firefighters and the requirement to be able to reach their local fire station from home or work within five minutes of a call-out.

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