Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have previously raised the issue of 1916 commemorative medals rightly being presented to members of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, and the National Ambulance Service. However, fire and rescue personnel, with the exception of County Kilkenny, were not presented with such a medal. They feel that this is indicative of the treatment they receive and the disrespect that exists from the authorities to fire and rescue personnel. A number of questions have been put to various Ministers, including the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Humphreys. It has been said that they are not responsible. Surely a directive or a guidance note was issued to local authorities and somebody somewhere, who was responsible for these commemorations, must have looked at these medals being presented to everybody except fire and rescue personnel across the State. I am asking that even now it be addressed. I do not believe that anybody in these Houses would object to the fire and rescue personnel receiving their 1916 commemorative medals. I ask the Leader to raise this with his relevant colleagues and to please report back to me and other Members of this House.

I also want to raise the issue of the gorse fires. I raised issue this last week. Where is the oversight on this issue? In the Inishowen peninsula a fire burned for four days. We are talking about part-time personnel who are on retainers and who have other jobs to do and responsibilities to meet.For four days, they were pinned down on the hills in Inishowen. Nobody was advising them in terms of helicopters, water, Defence Forces or anything like that.

In terms of oversight that leads up to the national emergency co-ordination group, which is led by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, what are the criteria given to local fire services? How many days must these part-time firemen be on the ground before they are given backup? What are the criteria and framework given to local fire services in this regard? I would greatly appreciate answers to these questions.

I also second Senator Conway-Walsh's proposal on the motion.