Retained firefighters are balloting this week with an indication from their union, SIPTU, to reject the offer. The firefighters are disappointed with the offer that is on the table as it does not address the low value of the retainer and the precarious nature of their pay structure. I do not want to pre-empt the results of the ballot but the feedback I am getting is entirely negative. Given that the Dáil is rising, this is something on which I would like some clarity from the Tánaiste. We are talking about workers who provide a life and death service. We must have a functioning fire service across the country. In my county of Wicklow every firefighter is a retained fire officer. If the offer is rejected, as is the belief of the union, will the Government re-engage with the industrial relations process and get back around the table with these essential workers to find a deal?

This recommendation has emerged from the industrial relations process. The Government has accepted the outcome of the industrial relations process. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of the ballot. The industrial relations process is independent and has come forward with an outcome. The Minister was proactive in all of this. He commissioned the report in the first instance. We have a forthcoming pay agreement which can also become a framework for resolving further issues, in addition to the outcome that has emerged here. We will always work with industrial relations processes. It has to be put on the record that this recommendation came out of fairly significant engagement on all sides.