Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson and join with him and Senators Gallagher and O'Donovan in paying tribute to our fire services and its members. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is aware of the challenges associated with the recruitment and retention of retained fire personnel being experienced by some local authorities. That is why the Minister directed the management board of the national directorate for fire and emergency management, NDFEM, to review the delivery and sustainability of the local authority retained fire services, with particular emphasis on the recruitment and retention of staff. Following substantial engagement with retained firefighters, staff representatives, fire service senior management and local authority employers and indepth research and analysis of the current model, a review was published in December 2022 entitled, Retained Fire Services in Ireland - A Review of Recruitment and Retention and the Future Sustainability of Service Delivery. The findings of the review report endorsed many of the ideas in the remarks made by Senators Gallagher and O'Donovan. In summary, the work-life balance of retained firefighters needs to be addressed to ensure the sustainability of retained fire services as an attractive employment option. All parties accept the findings of the report as a fair reflection of the current state of retained fire service provision and agree with the need to pursue the implementation of the recommendations made, to ensure the sustainability of retained fire services.Work is under way through the agreed structures to begin implementing the recommendations set out in this report and that will include active engagement with staff representatives in the retained fire services.

The report recommendations aim to enhance the model of service delivery by maintaining the strength of retained fire services, while addressing the issues acting as a barrier to recruitment and retention, which have been raised by Senators Gallagher and O'Donovan. The significant challenge in delivering change is balancing the organisational requirement and ability to respond with the life needs of each individual retained firefighter. Two plenary sessions of facilitation discussions on the priority industrial relations, IR, issues have already taken place between management and representatives of SIPTU, chaired by a third party intermediary. The key deliverable, agreed by both sides, was a revised composite agreement to standardise future employment terms and conditions across all local authorities reflecting the retained review recommendations.

During the most recent discussions held between management and SIPTU, substantial progress was made in addressing the work-life balance concerns of retained firefighters, as acknowledged by SIPTU. A positive conclusion to the process, to the satisfaction of all parties, has not been possible to date and, accordingly, SIPTU representatives have indicated the intention of retained firefighters to commence a period of escalating industrial action from 6 June. Management remains available to recommence discussions with a view to resolving outstanding IR matters and the Minister encourages all parties to use the agreed IR processes set out in the Building Momentum pay agreement to bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible.

Should a period of industrial action commence on 6 June, local authorities will put in place appropriate contingency measures to ensure the ongoing provision of essential services is maintained. SIPTU has confirmed that the response to emergency calls and normal health and safety measures will not be compromised during any period of industrial action. A national fire safety awareness campaign will run over traditional and social media and will reinforce home fire safety messaging to the public. However, the Government encourages all parties to continue to engage constructively in resolving the outstanding IR issues within the established forum and the structures set out under the Building Momentum public service agreement. I assure Senators Gallagher and O'Donovan and the Acting Chairman that I will bring their concerns directly to the Minister this evening and draw his attention to this debate.