'Outrageous behaviour' from TD during Dáil row over retained firefighters dispute

Sinn Féin TD John Brady expressing support retained firefighters outside Leinster House in Dublin, during a protest for better recruitment and retainment measures. Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl threatened to suspend the Dáil this afternoon, following arguments in the chamber over conditions for retained firefighters.

Sinn Féin TD John Brady was reprimanded by Mr Ó Fearghaíl for placing a retained firefighter’s on-call pager on the bench of Local Government Minister Darragh O’Brien during Questions on Policy or Legislation.

Addressing Mr O’Brien, Mr Brady challenged the Minister to live under the existing restrictions placed on retained firefighters, who are only permitted to live and work within a 3km radius of their home and workplace.

Mr Brady added that more pagers would be handed in to Mr O’Brien if the Government did not act swiftly to resolve the industrial dispute.

The move was branded by Mr O’Brien as an “act of theatre”, with Mr Ó Fearghaíl describing it as a “charade”.

“Absolutely outrageous behaviour and not to be encouraged,” Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.

There are approximately 2,000 Siptu members who work as retained firefighters at more than 200 fire stations around the country, providing fire and first-responder emergency services across the country.

Retained firefighters are not full-time employees and are instead paid a retainer to be on call for fire stations.

A picket sign outside Ardee Fire Station in Louth on Tuesday. Picture: PA/Niall Carson

The system is designed to provide 24/7 cover, with retained firefighters also receiving a per-callout fee.

Siptu has warned that retained firefighters are considering resigning from the service “in large numbers” from the beginning of next week.

Retained firefighters were initially raised this afternoon by Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, who said that the matter had reached a “crisis point”.

In response, Mr O’Brien said that there is a process and he was confident that the matter would be resolved.

Earlier today, Siptu Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin said that retained firefighters would begin a process of mass resignation from next week.

“There is no sign of a breakthrough in this dispute and with all out strike action to begin on Tuesday, 20th June, which will result in the closure of all retained fire stations across the country, an increasing number of SIPTU members have made clear they are considering resigning from the service”, O Loughlin said.

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“This strike was a last resort to endeavour to improve the service and prevent it from total collapse but the pressure on the community that full closure of stations will bring could well be a burden too far for already overburdened firefighters.

“Many would rather walk away altogether. If this happens, with crewing already at crisis levels, the service will collapse and will take years to rebuild as those firefighters will not return if they leave.” 

Siptu sector organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “The only action that can save this vital community resource from disaster is that the minister for housing, local government and heritage, Darragh O’Brien, and the minister for public expenditure, national development plan delivery and reform, Paschal Donohoe, put their heads together and arrange for the allocation of sufficient funds to address the necessary reforms that can resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in the retained fire service.”