STRIKE: Castlepollard firefighters on picket line, Mullingar tomorrow

Retained firefighters nationally have begun a second week of strike action with rolling work stoppages resulting in the closure of up to 50% of fire stations in the service.

In Westmeath, Athlone and Castlepollard are currently picketing their respective stations, while Mullingar and Kilbeggan will be picketing tomorrow from 8am.

Mullingar and Kilbeggan will be providing cover for Athlone and Castlepollard, today, Tuesday June 13.

This will rotate on a 24-hour basis, and at one minute past midnight tonight, Mullingar and Kilbeggan will close, with Athlone and Castlepollard providing cover.

"This is happening right around the country," says shop steward for Westmeath, Tony Sheerin.

It is understood that Minister Dara O'Brien is expected to make a "significant" announcement on the work stoppages in the Dáil later today.

"We're hoping that this announcement will be significant enough to avert week three of strike action, which will be an all-out strike starting next Monday June 20," comments Tony Sheerin.

"Whatever the Minister does say, we will bring that back to our members in Liberty Hall on Friday, where we have a meeting of members planned. We'll have a discussion and in the event, if necessary, we will discuss what week three is going to look like."

Mr Sheerin says industrial action is 'entirely against' a firefighters' nature:

"This is a situation that has been coming about now for many, many years now. We, as the Retained Firefighters, this is the last thing we want to do, and this week in particular, with the closures, you can feel the anxiety levels beginning to build.

"It's entirely against our nature but we feel if we don't do this now, if we don't follow this through, the alternative is far worse.

"What you will see over the next few days with 50% closures will absolutely become a reality in the next couple of years if there isn't a resolution to this, so that's why we're fighting this as much as we can."