Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend the work of our firefighters, and the firefighters in my constituency of Laois-Offaly who work day and night to ensure the safety of so many people and who save lives. What is happening to our firefighters is absolutely shameful. Years of calls for reform and for improvements around the recruitment and retention issues have pushed these dedicated public servants to the edge, resulting in the almost unprecedented threat of an all-out public strike later this month.

I commend and welcome the statement by Offaly County Council that all emergency calls involving life-threatening conditions and situations will continue to be responded to, despite the campaign of industrial action by retained fire fighters. I also commend the work of Offaly’s chief fire officer, Eoin O’Ceilleachair, and all his staff who have put in place robust contingency arrangements to assure members of the public around any risk to them arising from the industrial action.

We have been here before. In County Offaly we have seen our fire stations closed in Banagher, Daingean and Kilcormac due to what we were told was insufficient funding. It is scandalous. Today I call on the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to not give any tokenistic rhetoric, but to give assurances. These firefighters do not want a clap or a tap on the back. They want respect and they want proper pay.

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