Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I too would like to raise the issue of the retained firefighters. I have also been out talking to them this morning. They are angry and frustrated. Most of all, they are heartbroken. They are heartbroken because they are so committed to their communities and they know the impact this strike will have on the very people they work with, live with and love. I also received an on-call pager. The fact that SIPTU is saying there will be mass resignations next week is something the Minister must listen to seriously. He must engage with the firefighters. I also ask that he go out and talk to them. We must have a commitment to engaging properly with them. He must listen to the stories and to what they have to say.

At this stage, the issue is pay. Fundamentally, however, unless the Minister gets the pay issue correct, then there will be no retention of firefighters. They are leaving the service-----

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