Minister Browne welcomes resolution of retained firefighters dispute
- Published on: 1 May 2025
- Last updated on: 1 May 2025
Following engagement between fire service management and SIPTU, mediated through the Labour Court, on commitments under the Building Momentum agreement, SIPTU have confirmed that retained firefighters have voted to accept the recent Labour Court recommendation aimed at concluding this process.
Commenting on the result of the SIPTU ballot Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said:
“I welcome the decision of the retained firefighters to accept the recommendations of the Labour Court. Retained firefighters play a crucial role at the heart of communities throughout Ireland and do so with professionalism, commitment and bravery. I want to thank them and their representatives for their constructive engagement with the Local Government Management Agency to achieve this outcome.”
Retained firefighters are part-time employees of the local authorities who respond to fires and emergencies within their communities. Retained firefighters are trained to the same standard as full-time firefighters. The majority of fire services in Ireland are staffed by retained firefighters drawn from their local communities.
Discussions at the Labour Court were led, on behalf of the local authorities, by the Local Government Management Agency and supported by representatives of the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in a supporting role.