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Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Dublin firefighters still considering strike action over ambulance changes

Members of Dublin City Council met with trade union representatives today.

DUBLIN FIREFIGHTERS ARE still considering going on strike over proposed changes to how ambulance dispatches are carried out in the county.

Organiser Brendan O’Brien said Siptu’s Dublin Fire Brigade Section Committee will meet later this week “to decide on its next steps”.

Last week Dublin City Council announced that the HSE’s National Ambulance Service (NAS) operations centre in Tallaght is to take responsibility for all 999 calls.

Siptu’s Patricia King, Impact’s Shay Cody, and Dublin City Council’s Owen Keegan and Brendan Kenny met today to discuss the proposed reforms.

In a statement, Dublin City Council said the four agreed on the following principles:

  • The Control Centre Reconfiguration Project, as recommended in the HIQA Report, and including integrated emergency ambulance call taking and dispatch will be pursued;
  • Dublin Fire Brigade will continue to be fully involved in emergency ambulance service delivery as part of this reconfiguration project;
  • There will be no diminution in emergency ambulance service delivery to the population of the Region.

“It was agreed that a Joint Forum within Dublin City Council, inclusive of Management and SIPTU and IMPACT representatives, will be established under an independent chair, Mr Stephen Brady, former Dublin Chief Fire Officer,” it read.

All matters arising from this reconfiguration project will be addressed in this Forum.

O’Brien said the forum represented progress, but it “remains to be seen” if industrial action will go ahead.

“As things stand, the ballot is continuing.”

‘Second to none’ service

He said the forum will allow all parties to have “meaningful engagement” on the issue.

We were opposed to the fact there had been no consultation with stakeholders … There’s no-predetermined outcome [of the forum], which I think is good.

O’Brien said Siptu wants to ensure the service to the public is protected.

He had previously said the ambulance service delivered by DFB is “second to none”, adding: “It is economical and effective.”

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said he would ”not stand for a single Fire Brigade ambulance being taken out of service”.

Additional reporting by Órla Ryan

Read: Dublin firefighters to vote on industrial action over ambulance dispatch move

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33 Comments
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    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:41 AM

    It’s time to go for a drive over Sally Gap and get stuck

    61
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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:29 AM

    I hate winter and I hate snow. I want spring – NOW!

    39
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    Mute John John
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:29 AM

    I bet when anyone reads the above comment they are singing it in their head

    37
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    Mute John John
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:28 AM

    Oh the weather outside is frightful
    But the fire is so delightful
    And since we’ve no place to go
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    It doesn’t show signs of stopping
    And I’ve bought some corn for popping
    The lights are turned way down low
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    When we finally kiss good night
    How I’ll hate going out in the storm!
    But if you’ll really hold me tight
    All the way home I’ll be warm

    The fire is slowly dying
    And, my dear, we’re still goodbying
    But as long as you love me so
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    30
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:40 AM

    Wish I could give this more than one green thumb. Sadly only 0.01mm snow on the cars on our road this am! :-(

    6
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    Mute _doesnotcompute
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:13 AM

    Blame Canada.

    29
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    Mute Hugo Sanchez
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 AM

    Hmmmm last photo bit suspect..

    ^ ^ ^ off to google snowflakes

    28
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    Mute Hugo Sanchez
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:08 AM

    Let Fake Flake-Gate begin!!!

    22
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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:16 AM

    I always think snow looks different here. It’s wetter or something like it’s not real snow haha

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    Mute karla carroll
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:18 AM

    That would be sleet.

    81
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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:20 AM

    No because it’s on the ground sticking like just not properly!

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    Mute Aaron Broughill
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 AM

    No because when it snows here the temperature is very rarely below zero, in the likes of Canada wheb it snows the temp is well below zero so the snow freezes

    37
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    Mute Mal
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    Feb 5th 2013, 1:51 PM

    My wife over here in Sweden calls that wet snow! generally when we get snow here the temperature is at least around -3 degrees. The snow blows around like sand a lot of the time, it’s cold enough that it doesn’t melt on your hands, or clothes, or when the sun is out.
    It’s very different to what I knew as snow at home.
    A couple of weeks ago we had -15 degrees and sunny, it’s awesome! as much fun as warm weather methinks!
    Here’s a picture of a lake we walk across:

    https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_CqLUcAz2sM/URENqUB7-wI/AAAAAAAACnQ/kOzm9FXBODU/s772/20130120_130317.jpg

    5
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    Mute Tokidoll
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:03 AM

    I’m delighted to see my picture in there :-) It was a magical sight and a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning.

    15
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    Mute Sloan Bonnar
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:35 PM

    Best send everyone home from work early, before the buses are taken off the roads early!!!!!

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    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:21 AM

    Can people send in more

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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:48 AM

    Another week we will be into the mild weather.

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    Mute Redcaff
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:21 AM

    You mean ‘Summer’.

    22
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    Mute Aileen Carroll
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    Feb 6th 2013, 8:08 AM

    No spring comes first

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    Mute Lee Jones
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:38 PM

    bah not a screed in kinsealy feck it

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    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:22 AM

    I got the answer. Just didn’t c it the first time.

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    Mute Kerry Quinn
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    Mar 26th 2013, 10:49 PM

    Come on now! Alittle bit of snow. Kick back and have a pint.

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    Mute Kerry Quinn
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    Mar 26th 2013, 10:40 PM

    Come on now! A little bit of snow. Kick back and have a pint with friends.

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