Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)

I want to raise an important industrial dispute with Dublin Fire Brigade over the proposed implementation of a new computer-aided dispatch system. The membership of Dublin Fire Brigade have overwhelmingly voted for industrial action up to and including strike action over it. Effectively, there is a proposal to bring all fire brigades in the country under one dispatch system. However, the problem with the proposal is that it will not include Dublin Fire Brigade's ambulance fleet, meaning that the fire brigade side would be included but the ambulance fleet would not be included and it would fragment the existing resources. There has been no consultation with front-line firefighters on this and they make a strong case that splitting fire and ambulance services into two dispatch systems creates a clear risk to both public health and firefighter safety. It is an integrated fire, rescue and ambulance service and it is necessary that it has one dispatch system to reflect that. I do not know if the Tánaiste has come across this issue or if the Government can intervene on it.

See this speech in context