Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this very important motion tonight. I thank the fire brigade personnel who were in the Public Gallery but who have walked out in disgust at the Minister's speech which was shocking, after promising that he would come forward with something tonight.

I thank the firefighters in west Cork, Schull, Castletownbere, Bantry, Dunmanway, Bandon, Kinsale and Skibbereen. The fire station in Clonakilty is run down and is in a shocking state, but that is another day's argument.

These men and women give everything to their communities. They put others lives before their own on many days and on many nights. Tonight, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, in the statement the Minister read out, have shockingly insulted every firefighter in this country. Between the Minister and the Taoiseach today they have offered next to nothing to these great people. It is a wonder the Minister did not get up here and offer them extra buttons on their jackets. That is what the Minister is offering. It is absolute peanuts for what they have done. They deserve better. They deserve the respect of the State and for decades they have not had it. Tonight the Minister has further insulted them. The Minister and the Minister of State will not cod these great people who are working for less than €1 per hour every day of their lives.

Consider the Covid-19 period. We all could not move from our homes. This is the retained firefighters life for 340 days of the year 24-7. The Minister said that he would give them more time off but he will not have these firefighters working in the State if he gives them the time off. What is wrong with the Minister? Does he not understand the crisis that is there? Has he even visited a fire station to see the problems? The Minister said there would be 50 promoted new positions. In Cork county alone that may be less than one. For the love of God stop.

These firefighters do not want to strike but given the way this Government and previous Governments have treated them they are left with no choice. I have met numerous firefighters in west Cork in the past week and they are unhappy at having to switch off their buzzers. I told them the Government is 100% to blame here. If the Government will not bring in the long-awaited changes this is the only hope they have. We are facing an all-out strike from these great men and women. If this is let go, as far as I am concerned it is time for this Government to step aside, especially if the Government is going to leave the citizens of this State in such a dangerous position in the next 24 hours.

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