Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I am aware of his commitment and that of the senior Minister, Deputy O'Brien. My first concern is that it is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts. That should be addressed and all local authorities should look at this. I ask the Minister of State for a commitment on this. It is about resources and saving lives and it is something that can be done. If this can be done in some of the local authorities, it should be rolled out across all 31 of them. The Department has a role here through local authorities to ensure that they deliver and are accountable. I ask that the Minister might do this.

I welcome the review of the retained fire service and the delivery model. It is good and I know of the Minister of State's commitment here again. We all need to work together. I understand the importance of funding also but we must remember that we are dealing with lives here and with firefighters who have seen horrific crashes, fires and who have dealt with accidents which must be very traumatic. It is a training and calling. On the other side we have our ambulance paramedics who are excellent. We are so blessed with what we have. If we are not using all of our resources to the best of our ability, however, that needs to be looked at.

I cannot finish today without mentioning our own volunteers and community first responders, of whom the Minister of State will also be aware. It is important that I mention them because the communities of Carlow and Kilkenny are brilliant. We have our community first responders in Carlow, Tullow, Hacketstown, Bagenalstown who did great work during the Covid-19 period. I again emphasise that these are voluntary groups which need to be recognised. We are so lucky. We must ensure that we appreciate and look after those people who are out there day-in and day-out saving lives and doing what they can for us as a country. I thank the Minister of State again.

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