Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the attacks on firemen at Hallowe'en; if he will amend the legislation to ensure that the emergency services personnel have the same entitlement to protection and compensation when injured in the line of duty as the Garda Síochána have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43769/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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All attacks on members of the emergency service are reprehensible and a matter of concern to all right thinking members of society. The law makes specific and robust provision for attacks on members of the emergency services. The Criminal Justice Act 2006 strengthened the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to make it an offence to assault, or to threaten to assault, or to impede medical personnel in a hospital, people assisting such personnel or a peace officer acting in the course of duty. The definition of peace officer was expanded to include members of the fire brigade and ambulance personnel as well as a member of the Garda Síochána, a prison officer and a member of the Defence Forces under these provisions. In addition, the penalties for the offence of assault, or threatening to assault, a peace officer were increased to a fine of €5,000 or up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both, on summary disposal and to an unlimited fine or up to seven years' imprisonment, or both, on indictment. The Act also creates specific offences of threatening, assaulting, resisting, wilfully obstructing or impeding doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, other health and social care workers and any persons assisting them in or at a hospital. Conditions of employment of local authority employees are not within the remit of my Department, but are a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Local Government Act 2001.