Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. This matter is quite a niche one and affects very few individuals in the country who take up and are willing to put themselves forward and put their name on a ballot paper to represent their community, district and county. This matter relates to front-line workers who are full-time firefighters and put themselves in the way of danger at a moment's notice to protect and defend communities. They are often well-known figures within communities and are heavily involved in voluntary efforts.That being said, full-time firefighters are not eligible or allowed to be maintained as full-time firefighters and also hold the position of county councillor. That needs to be addressed and changed, with the Minister of State's support. Retained firefighters are allowed but often, because the cap for income earned is €49,000, the retained firefighters are judged based on their retained firefighter fee but their overall income, which is often more than €49,000, is not taken into account.

This has affected a councillor in Cork in the past who had to relinquish his duties as a county councillor. As we know, because county councillors are not well resourced or well funded even in terms of pension entitlements, which are non-existent, it is financially unfeasible to consider being solely a county councillor. This has affected Councillor Robert Nash in County Louth, who was a full-time firefighter. He has stood down from his firefighting duties and is working full time as a county councillor. This is an example he highlighted to me. It needs to be addressed because we need to encourage people into local government, especially those who work on the front line within our communities. I would welcome the Minister of State's consideration of this matter and possible routes to address this. It is quite a niche matter but there is merit in addressing it. I would welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on this.