Minister James Browne must act immediately to address government’s betrayal of retained firefighters – Johnny Guirke TD
18 March 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Johnny Guirke TD, has said that Minister James Browne must address former Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien’s betrayal of the Retained Fire Service.
In 2023, retained firefighters suspended planned industrial action to allow space for the then Minister to fulfil his commitment to the firefighters to fight tooth and nail for a ‘significant increase’ to the retainer paid to retained firefighters.
Minister O’Brien reneged on this commitment, and in October SIPTU-affiliated members rejected a pay proposal relating to the retainer paid to retained firefighters from the government and the LGMA, delivered via the WRC.
Teachta Guirke said:
“The government has continued to fail the retained firefighters. In 2023, Darragh O’Brien, the then Minister responsible, stood up in the Dáil and proclaimed himself as the man who would champion the needs of retained firefighters.
“RFF members previously suspended industrial action in good faith following assurances by the Minister. He did not deliver.
“We are now faced with the probability of a return to industrial action by the firefighters as, yet again, the government does not see fit to follow through with their commitments to champion retained firefighters and give them a decent wage, while members leave the service in frustration at their unfair treatment.
“There is no way that retained firefighters should have been put in this position. They have been lied to and treated with contempt by the government and Minister O’Brien. Minister Browne must now step up to the plate and ensure workers are treated fairly and previous commitments are adhered to.
“The responsibility for this situation lies clearly with Minister Browne now. He needs to act now to clean up this mess of his own government’s making. He needs to deliver on the commitments made before more of the valued firefighters leave the service leaving communities at risk if we do not have their vital service they provide if needed.”
