Yesterday, retained fire fighters rejected a paltry offer from the Government in relation to their retainer payment. This is yet another slap in the face for retained fire fighters right across the State. Last year, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, stated he would be their champion and fight tooth and nail for a significant increase in the retainer payment. This led to a suspension of industrial action that was in place at the time to create a space for these issues to be resolved. Despite having a €24 billion surplus in the budget the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Government have effectively stabbed the retained fire fighters in the back and we are now on the brink of the firefighters recommencing their suspended industrial action. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, simply lied to the firefighters last year to get them to off the picket line.

No, please Deputy. You cannot come in here and accuse a colleague of lying.

He told the retained fire fighters he would be their champion-----

The Deputy is out of order.

--- in the national pay talks. He lied to them and let them down and we are on the brink now of a recommencement of industrial action because of his lies.

Deputy, resume your seat. It is not in order to come in here and accuse anybody of lying. Resume your seat.

Sorry Ceann Comhairle, the Minister told untruths.

Resume your seat.

I want to know from the Minister what action the Government will take to resolve these issues-----

Resume your seat, you are over time.

-----to ensure there is not a recommencement of industrial action by our retained firefighters.

Deputy, you are over time.

What action will be taken?

Briefly, Minister.

I think it is very unfair that the Deputy has made such a personal attack and used such violent language, talking about stabbing people in the back.

Violent language?

The Deputy should not be using language-----

Violent language?

Yes, you have. You talked about him stabbing someone in the back.

He told the firefighters he would champion their cause.

Deputy, please.

That is beneath this House.

It is appalling.

He failed them and we are on the brink of industrial action recommencing.

It is beneath the Deputy to refer to a colleague in the House in that way. The LGMA and SIPTU retained firefighter representatives will meet shortly to consider the outcome of the ballot and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will work constructively with them. He has been very clear in acknowledging the important role they play in communities across the country. He has been very engaged in this-----

He failed them.

-----both in his own community and indeed in meeting retained firefighters right across the country. He will engage constructively on that-----

That would be a start.

----- and the Deputy should do that too.

I have. I have.