Vol. 505 No. 6
51 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he is taking to try and secure a solution to the industrial dispute involving members of the fire service who have served official strike notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14354/99]
Both management and unions attended talks at the Labour Court yesterday and the talks are to resume today. I urge both sides to re-double their efforts to find a solution in the interests of public safety. I emphasise that pay parity with the gardaí is not the issue; this has already been conceded, so I see no justification for this strike. It should be possible with goodwill on both sides to agree on the productivity measures necessary to trigger this pay increase and if necessary in the interests of public safety the strike should be deferred while negotiations continue.
