As a Deputy for County Meath and proud to be so, I welcome the Tánaiste’s comments on the dreadful attack in Navan and the solidarity extended. I welcome the same from the Taoiseach and across the political divide. It is echoed in the town of Navan, the county and across the country. I echo Deputy Doherty’s call for a comprehensive and appropriate response. As the Tánaiste said, we all need to work harder. I thank him for that.

I raise the recruitment and retention crisis in the retained fire service. Talks between the Local Government Management Agency and representatives from the fire service have collapsed due to constraints relating to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and pay. Earlier this week, I met with firefighters from County Meath. The service is under serious pressure, as are they as individuals. Will Government intervene to ensure the money is made available?

I share the Deputy’s revulsion at the shocking attack on the young boy in Navan. We have collectively done that today.

On the retained firefighters, we ask all parties to continue to engage constructively on resolving the outstanding industrial relations issues within the established facilitation forum. That is the best way to resolve this.

There is no silver bullet solution to the issues of recruitment and retention. The Minister has acknowledged there clearly are issues. A report was commissioned in 2021. He accepted a recommendation of the management board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to publish it. I will talk to the Ministers. The objective will be to keep all sides talking.