Dublin Will Be Left Without Firefighters For Two Days As Dublin Fire Brigade Strike

Dublin Fire Brigade have announced that they will go strike for two 24-hour periods later this month.

The two stoppages are set to go ahead on Sunday, March 18 and Monday, March 27. Both strikes will commence at 9am.

The decision to strike follows a rally in Dublin City yesterday evening by members of the Dublin Fire Brigade outside City Hall. These strikes are in direct opposition of discussions over the removal of the ambulance and dispatch function.

According to The Independent, SIPTU sector organiser Brendan O'Brien said:

"It is with deep regret that Siptu members in Dublin Fire Brigade have been forced into conducting these work stoppages. These firefighters are withdrawing their labour to indicate, in the strongest manner open to them, their complete opposition to an attempt by senior management in Dublin City Council to break up the DFB Emergency Medical Service by removing its ambulance call and dispatch function.

Removal of this function breaks a key link in the DFB Emergency Medical Service chain, which would result in a reduction in the effectiveness of the service, response time delays and expose the public to increased risk."

Labour Dublin City councillor Alison Gilliland has since called on Dublin City Council to re-engage talks with the ambulance forum and Fire Brigade in order to resolve the dispute.