Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has guidelines in relation to part-time fire brigade members seeking time release from full time employment to meet their duties in relation to fire fighting; if not, his plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21435/07]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that retained fire fighters are employed directly by the local authorities. Neither my Department nor the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government nor the local authorities have guidelines on the question of the release of retained firefighters to carry out their fire fighting duties. However, I further understand that there is an onus on retained fire fighters to obtain permission from their other employer to secure release to carry out their fire fighting duties.

If retained fire fighters cannot obtain that permission and if they are in dispute with their other employer on this issue, it is open to them to refer the matter to the Labour Relations Commission for resolution of the dispute.