Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend the condolences of our party to the family of Paul Coghlan and all his party colleagues.

I also extend my condolences and those of my party to the family of the late John Murphy. He was one of two men who were very seriously injured in an incident at the Stryker plant in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, in April this year. Sadly, John lost his life last week. It is obviously an enormous tragedy for his family and colleagues but it is important to say, while we have to await the outcome of the investigation into his death and the explosion that took place in that plant, SIPTU representatives have been trying to get a meeting with management at the Stryker plant at Carrigtwohill.Thus far, Stryker has been resisting that. We saw 27 lives were lost last year and there were many more injuries in Irish workplaces. If we are serious about health and safety, there has to be a partnership between those representing workers and management in every workplace in this country.

I send our solidarity to the firefighters who are on strike today. As has been said, these people do not want to go on strike, but for the safety of their communities and their own dignity and respect in the low-paid jobs that they do, they have been forced into this situation. We have heard loose commitments with regard to recruitment but we also need commitments with regard to pay. I am struck by what Senator Gavan said - that in many local authorities now one cannot be a retained firefighter and have a job in a local authority. The opposite used to be the case. There was an arrangement across most local authorities that one could be a retained firefighter and be a member of the local authority but that has been reversed.

Finally, today makes the turning of the sod - in less than half an hour’s time - for a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Dominick Street in Dublin 1. This school is now into its 21st year in temporary accommodation. Of course, success has many fathers and mothers. There will be many people claiming credit for today. It is important to note that it was the school community - the principal, the staff and the parents - who had to go through many years of false dawns and all sorts of delays and disappointments before finally getting to today, when the sod will be turned. I wish the school all the very best. In particular, I pay tribute to those in the school community who have ensured that today is happening.