Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With due respect, I am more interested in finding a solution and a pathway to resolving this issue and concluding the dispute. I have spoken to retained firefighters. They do not want to be out on strike. They are perfectly entitled democratically to go out on strike, but those I have met do not wish to be out on strike. We want to find a pathway to resolve the dispute effectively. We want retained firefighters to stay in the service and we want to recruit more. The Minister commissioned the report to get to the facts. The facts are that a significant proportion of retained firefighters are considering not staying in the service. The question is how to address that, first, through industrial relations. SIPTU represents the retained firefighters. How do we find a mechanism in normal industrial relations to find a solution? Ultimately, it is difficult if people are not talking to one another. It is an old principle. People need to be talking to one another. A mechanism is available through the WRC. Furthermore, the Minister gave a commitment through the national collective pay agreement which will be getting under way - a new one is coming - that he will advocate to ensure retained firefighters are looked after.

I acknowledge the phenomenal work retained firefighters do. They are vital to dealing with fires.

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