Special deal for firefighters would 'unravel' public service pay policy, minister says

It comes as retained firefighters staged pickets at several fire stations and marched to the Dáil in a bid to secure improved pay and conditions that they say is needed to urgently address a recruitment and retention crisis in the service.

Making special arrangements for retained firefighters would completely unravel the national public service pay policy, Minister Darragh O'Brien has warned.

However, Mr O'Brien has said that "there is a way forward that meets firefighters' needs and protects the integrity of the collective pay process" and promised to address retainer payments in upcoming national pay talks.