In 2005, sub-officer Brian Murray led a walk out of retained firefighters from the fire station in Bray highlighting serious issues within the retained service such as recruitment and retention. He told me that day that someone would die unless action was taken to address the serious issues. Less than two years later, Brian and his colleague, Mark O'Shaughnessy, died while tackling a blaze in Bray due to the serious issues. Unfortunately, negotiations between the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and representatives from the firefighters broke down citing restrictions imposed on the negotiations by the then Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We are now facing a grim prospect of industrial action taking place from 6 June, moving to full industrial strike action from 20 June. Why have these restrictions and limitations been imposed on these negotiations? What actions will Government take to address the serious issues within the retained service and to stop this industrial action taking place?

This a matter in which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, is taking a personal interest. He is aware of the particular issues the Deputy has raised and it is a matter I will take back to him. We very much value the work of the fire service and the retained fire service so it is a matter we are keeping under constant observation.