Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I dispute and reject the emotional blackmail being directed at 24/7 first responders. It is similar to what occurred when nurses voted to strike. The only interest shown at the time was in who had died. The Minister of State takes a similar line in arguing that only patients will suffer. Firefighters do not take industrial action lightly. They have been forced into doing so and the Minister of State should not use emotional language when discussing the dispute. His response contained many anomalies.