asked the Minister for Local Government what insurance cover, if any, local authorities take out for members of part-time fire brigades; and if such an insurance cover meets expenses for injuries received while fire-fighting.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Insurance of Fire Brigade Personnel.
56.
The information available in my Department shows that insurance cover for retained fire brigade personnel varies from authority to authority. In general, the cover provides for compensation for death, injury and disablement, and in some cases includes provision for medical expenses.
Does the Minister agree that his Department should do something about this in view of the fact that recently when a member of the local fire brigade was injured, not too severely, in the course of fire-fighting, he had to pay £5 medical expenses out of his pocket? Because this affects working men, will the Minister not ensure that local authorities see to it that firemen are covered for medical expenses?
In regard to standardisation in this matter, we have had contact with the Fire Officers and Firemens Association. The Association have considered this matter as one would expect and they informed my Department recently that they have decided to recommend to their members that assessment be asked in respect of standardisation of the conditions obtaining.
Surely the Minister is aware that the employees of the various local authorities who are in the fire-fighting service are members of trade unions in most cases? It is to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions the Minister should apply if he wants information on a matter of this sort. Whether he gets it or not, would he not agree that it seems ludicrous that a man who becomes injured during fire-fighting should be asked to pay his own medical expenses?
When anything is raised here by Deputy Tully it would appear that he knows far more about it than the person being questioned. I am saying that we have been active in this matter. We desire to have standardisation of cover for those very excellent personnel. We hope that the standardisation will take place but as to how, when and where it will take place, I am not, at this stage, in a position to say.
Will the Minister say whether if I send this bill for £5, he will see that the local authority will have it paid?
Is the Minister not aware that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have been continually requesting him to do something about this? Representations have been made by constituents to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
It is about the Association's representations. Just leave this for a moment. I want to say that the Association—I stand subject to correction on this—which are likely to be representative of the views of those people, are as anxious about this matter as anybody else.
They are not even in the trade union.
Further, there does not have to be something mystical about the trade unions.
The Minister does not want to deal with them.
I am open to being re-directed in my mind on this but the Association were asked by my Department to consider the matter of drafting a standard type of cover and on 26th September they actually considered what they are going to do about this. Consideration is going on at the moment. Surely this matter can be approached in that way?
Will the Minister say why his Department have not given any consideration to the representations made?
We, in my Department, just do not jump to conclusions with regard to what somebody said. We consider what has been said and then we decide.
This is a matter in which the Minister has given selective recommendation to a group who are not affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
I am sorry if in fact by any action I would appear to be creating strife within the trade union movement.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
This is apparently causing strife within the trade union movement.
Question No. 57.