Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I pay respect to firefighters nationally, including those in County Wexford and some of whom are in the Visitors Gallery, on their outstanding service and commitment. Their dedication to their communities is second to none and their passion for their job is exemplary. They are often the first on the scene for emergencies such as car crashes, cardiac arrests and suicide attempts. They are often the first port of call in providing much-needed support for families in times of trouble.

The current setup of the retained fire service is not workable. Recruitment has reached an all-time low because of the stark pay and conditions. The pressure on the firefighters' families is enormous. There are significant issues with work–life balance. As one firefighter put it, when you join the retained fire service, your family joins with you. There is a substantial question mark over EU law and whether standby hours count as working time under the working time directive, as was ruled in favour of a Belgian retained firefighter in 2018.

These issues arise in the context of other crises. In County Wexford, you must live within 2.5 km of the station to be part of a retained crew. With the acute housing crisis, this is nearly impossible for people, and many cannot secure a mortgage. The cost-of-living crisis is putting additional pressure on crews, resulting in experienced and passionate firefighters having to leave the job because of financial pressure. This loss of expertise is detrimental to the service. Firefighters I have spoken to are adamant that within five years or less, if the current conditions are allowed to continue, there will be no one left in the service.

We need an Oireachtas committee to conduct a full and independent review of how the national fire service is delivered. We need key recommendations on the issues outlined today, such as pay, conditions and management structures within the service. It is no use providing new fire stations if there is no one to man them. It is like buying a new car but discovering too late that there is no one to drive it. I ask all Deputies to support this motion.

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