SIPTU Fire Service representatives have repeated their call for a meeting with Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, in relation to necessary changes to fire safety operations following the Grenfell Tower disaster. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, John King, said: “I wrote to the Minister again yesterday (Thursday, 29th June) seeking an urgent meeting with him in relation to the responses which are necessary following the appalling tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London. This is my second request for such a meeting with the Minister since that disaster. “I note that in a media interview on Wednesday (28th June), Minister Murphy stated that the Grenfell Tower disaster is going to change how authorities in Ireland deal with fire safety. The Dublin Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer has also said that the Grenfell incident must be a game changer for the Fire Service operations.” He added: “It is essential that the views and the experiences of frontline fire fighters are fully taken into account when reviewing the operation of fire safety. Fire fighter representatives have for some time been calling for a programme of risk assessments to be undertaken concerning responses to serious and complex fire emergency incidents. “Such assessments must then inform what responses are necessary to deal with such incidents in order to ensure the protection of life and property as well as the safety of the fire and emergency personnel responding to them.” SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “It is deeply regrettable that Minister Murphy failed to respond to our request earlier this month to convene an urgent meeting with Fire Service representatives to discuss these issues. “SIPTU members had hoped that progress on these critical issues would be made through the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group. They still believe that this established process, in which all stakeholders participate, presents the best opportunity for meaningful progress on these matters.”
SIPTU repeats call to Minister Eoghan Murphy to meet Fire Service representatives
