All firefighter/paramedics are creaming it in all right Gary , they have the country in the state its in because they were giving money to buy property that was over priced just to make a fortune ….OH sorry that was the banks and government , must of forgot my second job is a bank manager and don’t know how to spend my bonus for doing a terrible job…get a grip Gary

It’s hard not react to stupid comments. Judging by his twitter profile "Gary" is obviously young, immature and uneducated. As my colleagues have already stated, not all firefighters have second jobs, and those that do aren’t working extra days and nights away from their family’s for the craic. They are doing it to put food on the table and pay a mortgage. To make up the money that has already been cut from our wages through various means. My gut tells me that little Gary knows little of either hard work or paying a mortgage. Education of the ignorant aside, the main article does have some serious points. More pain is coming in 2012 and we have to be prepared. People outside looking in will see this as all about overtime, to those that do I say this, overtime in the DFB ensures a minimum manning level, so that when the bells go we respond with a full fire crew, not a reduced one. So when we arrive at your house we have enough crew to get you out and do it safely. Everyone needs to contribute in this difficult time, it’s my humble opinion the firefighters, paramedics, Gardaí, nurses and the rest of the public sector who are keeping this country going have given more than their fair share. it’s time for those that caused this mess to carry the can.

As stated by my colleagues this has nothing to do with the cut in wages or what we earn etc.

This is simply about protecting peoples lives ,YOUR life and OUR lives as Fire Fighters.

I enjoy what I do as a Fire Fighter and I also enjoy going home to my family ,don’t take this away from me,my colleagues or yourselves with these cuts to the Irish Fire Service.

Time is a precious commodity, and it waits for no one. When lives are on the line, seconds count. Fractions of seconds count.Few individuals in our lives better understand the importance of time than the men and women of the Irish  Fire Service . Highly qualified public servants, trained to handle crises affecting both people and property – often simultaneously.We are the professionals in our area.
We are highlighting to you the public what effects these cuts will have to you the citizens we serve.
Its that simple you will either take in what we are saying or ignore it and move on.Only to remember when the time comes when you need us ,that we aren’t their in time to save your loved ones or your property.Its to late then.

These cuts will put the lives of Fighters and the community we protect at risk.The decision by the Labour Court has only deferred the cuts. The spirit of The Croke Park agreement was to deliver a better public service to the citizens of Ireland. IFESA believe this can be done and look forward to improvements in service delivery in the Fire Service. Croke Park should not be used as a means to implement cuts on essential Public Services. Certain services provided by public servants need to be protected and financing ring fenced.

IFESA are calling on the cuts to the fire service to STOP and for the reforms to the Fire Service to Start.
Its that simple, there is a simple better solution out there.IFESA is calling on the establishment of a National Fire & Ambulance service for Ireland.This move alone will save millions.

In relation to Dublin IFESA have been calling for the recruitment of Fire Fighters for over a year now.This shortage has been going on since 2009.Since then apx 200+ Fire Fighters have retired or left the service alone in Dublin.This has left a shortage of Fire Fighters to man the Fire Engines.This shortage has been picked up by overtime,this is not a viable long term solution.

The recruitment moratorium does not exist for the Fire Service.Minister Phil Hogan has stated this.But many Local Authorities around the country do not have the money to recruit the needed Fire Fighters.But you will see that DCC still had the money to recruit 3 engineers in August as per national ad in newspapers.Their wage would have covered the wages of apx 12 recruit FireFighters in dublin.They were obviously much needed.

We work in Dublin a 42 hour week with the time from 39 hours > 42 hours being paid back with 24 hours in leu every 2 years.So for the 312 hours every 2 years we work over 39hours a week we get in leu 24hrs back yippee!!

It’s hard not react to stupid comments. Judging by his twitter profile "Gary" is obviously young, immature and uneducated. As my colleagues have already stated, not all firefighters have second jobs, and those that do aren’t working extra days and nights away from their family’s for the craic. They are doing it to put food on the table and pay a mortgage. To make up the money that has already been cut from our wages through various means. My gut tells me that little Gary knows little of either hard work or paying a mortgage. Education of the ignorant aside, the main article does have some serious points. More pain is coming in 2012 and we have to be prepared. People outside looking in will see this as all about overtime, to those that do I say this, overtime in the DFB ensures a minimum manning level, so that when the bells go we respond with a full fire crew, not a reduced one. So when we arrive at your house we have enough crew to get you out and do it safely. Everyone needs to contribute in these difficult time, it’s my humble opinion the firefighters, paramedics, Gardaí, nurses and the rest of the public sector who are keeping this country going have given more than their fair share.

For balance, are there any firemen willing to say, and I mean honestly, how much they earned in 2010?

Why are they having a vote on industrial action? The court has ruled that the cuts can’t be made. This is what they wanted. Hopefully firefighters will be clever enough to vote against striking. It seems like the union just wants to stir things up.

It’s ridiculous that we are paying anyone in the public sector for overtime. Either hire more people or give people time off in lieu. There shouldn’t be a cent paid in overtime in any publixc sector job given the state that we’re in right now.

they should cut there wages,they,re all double jobbing and creaming it in

I thought it was a simple question to be honest with you. By ‘balance’, I wanted to give some perspective to the comments being put up stating that there are fire fighters who are in financial trouble forcing them to work a second job.
For the record, I am a procurement manager for a private sector logistics company and I earned â