Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has encouraged unions to resume industrial relations talks following concerns that retained firefighters are considering resigning “in large numbers”.
The Dáil was nearly suspended on Thursday following a fiery row between Minister O’Brien and Sinn Féin about the ongoing strikes.
There are approximately 2,000 SIPTU union members who work as retained firefighters at more than 200 fire stations around the State, providing fire and first-responder emergency services. Although they are required to be on call, they are not considered full-time employees.
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Industrial action escalated on Thursday will turn into an all-out strike next Tuesday if the dispute about pay and working conditions is not resolved.
In the Dáil, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said that the matter was now at a “crisis point”.
He said: “SIPTU have come out and said that there is likely to be mass resignation from the service as a result of this action.
“You know that this will result in the collapse of the service, Minister
“Today, firefighters have marched on Leinster House. They are outside. They are very, very angry that the Government will not intervene. An intervention is required now.”
Mr Doherty encouraged and “challenged” Minister O’Brien to go and meet the firefighters, as well as wearing one of their on-call pagers.
His party colleague John Brady then stood up, walked across the Dáil chamber and handed Minister O’Brien a pager.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl was furious by the move, saying that it was “completely out of order” and “outrageous”.
“Do not carry out a charade in this House,” he said.
Mr Brady argued: “This is a life and death issue and that Minister is sitting there and ignoring the firefighters of this country.”
Minister O’Brien accused Mr Brady and Sinn Féin of engaging in “an act of theatre” that was “obviously choreographed”.
As shouting resumed from the Sinn Féin benches as TDs asked if the Minister would meet the firefighters, the Ceann Comhairle threatened to suspend the Dáil sitting.
Minister O’Brien encouraged the unions representing the firefighters to “re-engage with the State's process and industrial relations process”.
He later told Labour leader Ivana Bacik that he agreed that the payment for retained firefighters was “too low”.
“I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure this payment is increased, and increased significantly,” he said.
“There is contact between my Department and union representatives. This is happening.
“Leaving everything else aside, fundamentally, this is about retaining the brave men and women who are in these posts now and attracting more people into the service.”
He also added that public sector pay talks will resume in July.
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