Sinn Fein delegation to meet Dublin Fire Brigade
Sinn Féin’s Dublin Spokesperson on the
Environment, Councillor Daithí Doolan, will lead a party delegation which
will include Mary Lou McDonald MEP, Aengus O’Snodaigh TD and Councillor
Felix Gallagher, "to discuss with Dublin Fire Brigade how we can work with
the staff and unions in preventing any further attacks on the City’s
emergency services."
Speaking ahead of
tomorrow’s meeting in Liberty Hall, Cllr. Doolan said:
‘It
is totally unacceptable that fire brigade staff now face the threat of
violence on a daily basis. Men and women of Dublin Fire Brigade have
served this City well yet now they face the added strain of confronting
violence from the very people they continue to serve and protect.
Our meeting will be focused on what we can do to support the fire service in this city. The solution really lies in trade unions, politicians, city management and government departments showing a willingness to work together to guarantee the safety of this workforce.
Since these attacks have reached a new height in recent weeks Sinn Fein have raised the issue with the Minister for Justice calling for legislation to be brought forward regarding attacks on emergency services introduced. Now we will use tomorrow’s opportunity to hear at first hand the situation facing the Dublin Fire Brigade staff and how we can best work together to ensure those carrying out their duty can do so in the full knowledge they will not be attacked and if they are attacked no stone is left unturned in stopping such mindless attacks. ’
In conclusion Cllr. Doolan called on
the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, ‘to increase penalties
for those found guilty of attacking our emergency services.’