Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Up to 1.2 million people across Dublin depend on the Dublin Fire Brigade emergency medical services. Dubliners proudly support Dublin Fire Brigade. This is evident from the rally that took place last night outside City Hall, Dublin. Those at the rally were supported by each grouping on the council, including the group of the Minister's party, Fine Gael.

In fact, Dubliners have proudly supported Dublin Fire Brigade since its inception. It is the oldest uniformed organisation in the country. In 1705, for the first time, four mechanical units were given to fight fire in the city. In 1898, what we know today as the Dublin fire rescue and emergency ambulance service was established in Winetavern Street in the Liberties in Dublin 8. It has continued unbroken service to the people of Dublin since then.

Senior management at Dublin City Council, led by the chief executive, Mr. Owen Keegan, have decided to change this. They have decided to fix what is not broken. They are going to break it up and they want to remove the ambulance call and dispatch function. Cén fáth? Why would this be the case? Why disrupt an incredible, efficient and necessary service?

Members of the fire brigade are present today. The rest of them are out fighting and saving lives. They are first responders. They have come because they are so incensed by what is going on and how they are being treated, especially by Dublin City Council. They are highly-trained paramedics. They use emergency vehicles and operate a highly-efficient and dedicated call and dispatch centre that consolidates all fire and emergency calls. The linkage of the call and dispatch centre with paramedics and emergency vehicles means that both ambulances and fire and rescue vehicles can be sent simultaneously to situations where they are required. We have car crashes daily from early morning to late at night. The current set-up means that fire operations can also act as emergency cover if the ambulance is not available.When we make or receive 999 calls as nurses, the fire brigade comes to the rescue of people in need 90% of the time. Dublin Fire Brigade provides a world-class service and has the second fastest response time in Europe. Its gold standard model has been adopted in Berlin, Tokyo and Paris. The fire service in London sent staff to Dublin to conduct research on this model and is about to implement the same service. Lo and behold, on a whim, the CEO of Dublin City Council, Mr. Owen Keegan, using a reserved function has decided to take this away.

The Minister of State will refer to the HIQA report and its findings regarding the improvement in ambulance response times throughout the city and county, but he must recognise that the expert report dealt adequately with all of the queries, difficulties, scenarios and nuances with which HIQA came up and that there is no need for HIQA to implement its report. That could be recognised by HIQA, but it certainly needs to be recognised by the Minister of State and the senior Minister. It is imperative that this service be retained. I ask the Minister to address the dispute and avert the final option of two days of strike action. The industrial action would spread nationwide. First responders are respected, as are all 24-hour emergency service staff, including nurses, doctors and gardaí. They are the essential fabric of this society and Dubliners are proud to support the fire officers who will be supported by every last man, woman and child in the city if they choose to take industrial action.