Seanad debates

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

1:00 pm

Photo of Terry LeydenTerry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

It has not been resolved. The position in Roscommon is very serious. The people have been left without a 24 hour, seven day accident and emergency service at Roscommon County Hospital and we are now being left without emergency services on the same basis. The fire service provides an excellent service in County Roscommon. No other county would tolerate being left without such a service. I call on all those involved, including the chief executive of Roscommon County Council, to reinstate the men immediately and negotiate a settlement of the dispute. It seems illogical that the chief executive of a county council would suspend 25 or 27 fire fighters. There is a danger of floods in several areas of County Roscommon, in which event we would have to rely on the Army or the fire services in adjoining counties which must deal with difficulties in their own counties. I ask the Leader to call on the Minister to intervene in the dispute. The Minister is responsible for local government and in charge of the fire service. We have no Minister of State with responsibility for housing or any other purpose. I, therefore, ask the Minister intervene in that regard. I also ask the Seanad to call on the chief executive of Roscommon County Council to reinstate the 27 fire fighters with immediate effect, pending a resolution of the dispute in the Labour Court in the near future.

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