Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As a Deputy for County Meath and proud to be so, I welcome the Tánaiste’s comments on the dreadful attack in Navan and the solidarity extended. I welcome the same from the Taoiseach and across the political divide. It is echoed in the town of Navan, the county and across the country. I echo Deputy Doherty’s call for a comprehensive and appropriate response. As the Tánaiste said, we all need to work harder. I thank him for that.

I raise the recruitment and retention crisis in the retained fire service. Talks between the Local Government Management Agency and representatives from the fire service have collapsed due to constraints relating the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and pay. Earlier this week, I met with firefighters from County Meath. The service is under serious pressure, as are they as individuals. Will Government intervene to ensure the money is made available?

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