Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin and Deputy John Brady in particular for bringing this motion forward. Deputy Brady has worked on this issue for a long time. When I was on Wicklow County Council with him, he put a massive amount of work into the issue. I want to acknowledge that.

The Minister referred to his long-standing admiration for retained firefighters and for their dedication. He said he is conscious of the special responsibility that is placed on him to ensure that the men and women of the service are provided for and empowered to carry out their duties. He said it is a responsibility that he undertakes with the utmost seriousness. I agree completely with my colleague. The Minister's talking earlier about a positive result this evening has completely undermined their trust in him. He did not come in with a positive response or a positive result. Their faith in his willingness and the political will to resolve the issues that have been going on for years and years has been eroded, I would imagine. The fact that they have walked out this evening demonstrates that it has been eroded. Not only does the Minister have a responsibility to deal with this in a serious way, he has a responsibility to treat those involved with respect. Unfortunately, I do not think that has happened this evening. The Minister saying he had a positive response when he did not showed a clear lack of respect for what they do.

I have spent the past few days and weeks talking to firefighters from my constituency in Wicklow to get a sense of how they would like me to represent the issue for them tonight. It was clear that all the men I spoke to absolutely love being and are honoured to be firefighters. It really goes to the core of who they are. They love their community and would do anything to keep it safe. However, when I talk to them I get the sense of desperation from them. The impact this is having on their lives and their families' lives is so difficult. It is not making it impossible for them to do their job because they are still doing that job. However, their family lives are being fundamentally impacted. Not a single one of them wants to be on strike. The Minister recognises that. It goes completely against every single thing they stand for and represent. For them to go on strike is a signal that the Minister really needs to listen to them. It is a signal that they are at breaking point. They are not doing it for themselves. They know that if this line is not drawn in the sand, the retained fire service will be gone in any event. This is their opportunity to make sure that what comes after them is sustainable and strong, and that it still meets the needs of the communities they work in and those of the firefighters and their families.

When I was talking to them, what was really stark was that it is the simple things. It is the really simple things that each of us here takes for granted that they cannot do. The fact that they are on call pretty much constantly means that they cannot do those little things. Some of them cannot get to the shops. If they are in a rural area their local shops might be further away than the 2.5 km. Things like driving their children to football matches, going around the county to hurling, football or soccer matches, they cannot do that. In many instances, they cannot attend birthdays or family events or go on holidays. Someone I was talking to missed the birth of their child because they were on call and could not make it. This is a huge imposition. It is not only an imposition on the firefighters, but also on their families, their partners, spouses, children, parents and extended family. Each of the people in their extended family and immediate family is also carrying this role. They are also doing our communities a service. Through the work they are putting into their families, they are enabling their partners to be the firefighters and to protect communities. It is not just firefighters that this is impacting. That is something that can be forgotten. If I put myself in their shoes, if my partner was out doing this job, I would not be able to stand for it. It is a major commitment that they make.

The reason they have been treated so badly for so long is linked to their sense of commitment. Their sense of duty is so strong that they have not complained about this at all. Even when I was talking to them over the past few days, they did not want to complain too much and were really conscious of not complaining or making it sound like their lives were very difficult. They are not used to reflecting the real hardships that successive Governments have placed on them. We have a two-tier fire service in this country. Those retained firefighters, the men and women who live outside the major urban areas, are expected to go above and beyond, but it is not a two-way street. The Government does not respect them to the extent it should and does not value their service. The Minister may say he does but really, if their service was valued, we would not be debating this issue today as it would have been resolved long before now.

In the context of retention, I do not know how any young person could even think about joining the retained fire service at the moment.

The impact on not only their lives but on those of their families would be so great. I do not see how they can sacrifice so much for us. Many issues need to be resolved. Unfortunately, despite the promises of a positive result, the Minister has come to the Chamber tonight and that has not been provided. The goodwill and the sense of duty the Government has relied on is drying up quickly. These firefighters and the service are being pushed to breaking point.

What is the Minister's alternative? What service will he provide? If we see an full-out strike, what is he going to do? If we see a lot of people leaving the service, what is he going to do? This is not just possible but it is highly likely. Who is going to be at the other end of the call when one of us or our families need to make that call to the fire service? Who are we going to expect to protect us? That is the Minister's responsibility; that is his job. He needs to step in now and make sure the service is fit for purpose. When I talk about it being fit for purpose, I am not just talking about being able to manage the fires that happen or the road traffic accidents that happen. It needs to look after the firefighters and their families and, in turn, that will look after our communities. That is what we need to see.

We need to see concrete measures from the Minister. He needs to find solutions. He must not point to the pay agreements and say that this is not something we can do. He needs to find a solution because there is no alternative.

I want to acknowledge the work of the retained fire service and the commitment firefighters give day in, day out, year in, year out. I hope the Minister reflects on what has been said this evening and makes this work for them. If it does not work for them, it does not work for our wider communities.

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