Article in http://www.independent.ie/opinion/ed...

Thursday October 29 2009

EVERY year, around Halloween, fire officers come under attack, having been called to a bonfire. This year the attacks have begun earlier and have already assumed a calculated viciousness that suggests something more sinister than usual.
Two weeks ago, several fire trucks were attacked while out on calls for bonfires and last weekend two paramedics on a Fire Brigade ambulance were seriously assaulted while trying to help a man convulsing in a west Dublin suburb.
Over the past two days, attacks by large groups of young men have intensified, with firemen coming under attack in parts of north and west Dublin.
Fire officers have grown accustomed to verbal and physical abuse all the year round, but current disturbances are particularly frightening and there have been whispers about a work stoppage at Halloween, a recipe for serious tragedy.
The deaths of two part-time firemen in Bray two years ago was a grim reminder of the debt the public owes to the brave men and women who place their lives on the line every day to protect us.
Wild anarchy in parts of Dublin at this time of year puts those lives at risk for no purpose. There is little point in appealing to frenzied youngsters to get sense, but their parents and other adults in the area must surely recognise the dangers and assume some responsibility.
Perhaps they too are afraid, like the firemen and paramedics.
If so, there's a bigger nightmare in store. And not only at Halloween.

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NATIONAL DIRECTORATE FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Welcome to the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in Ireland. The decision to establish the National Directorate was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the 22nd June, 2009. The Directorate operates under the aegis of the Local Government Division of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Mandate of the National Directorate:

The mandate of the National Directorate is to create an effective model of integrated leadership, development support and oversight by central government of local authority’s provision of consistently effective, safe and value-for-money fire and emergency services in Ireland.

The National Directorate puts in place a management structure at central level with a clear mandate and visibility to develop national policy and standards and to drive consistent achievement of quality services by local authorities, while not interfering with existing and appropriate political accountability.

The National Directorate is a consolidation of the development and support functions of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government which have evolved over the years as part of its role as the parent Government Department of the local authorities who provide fire services in Ireland.

National Directorate Structure:

The National Directorate is a tri-partite structure with a Management Board, a Consultative Committee and a National Director. The three components operate as inter-dependent elements of a functioning National Directorate.

The Management Board provides for integration of different strands of service management. It establishes priorities, supports policy-making and oversees consistent implementation of the nationally-determined priorities and policies.
The Consultative Committee provides a forum for representation/consultation with stakeholder interests.

The National Director is the head of the Department’s Fire Services and Emergency Management Section. This Section is structured around four core business units – An Administrative Unit, an Emergency Management/ Civil Protection Unit, a Fire Service Operations Unit and a Fire Safety and Development Unit.

Contact Details:

Phone Number 01-8882000
Fax No. 01-8882645
National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Managment
Customs House,
Dublin 1.

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NATIONAL DIRECTORATE FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Management Board Membership

The Management Board will provide for integration of different strands of service management, with appropriate external members to balance it. It will establish priorities, support policy-making and oversee consistent implementation of nationally-determined priorities and policies.

Management Board Membership

Chair

Mr. David J. O’Callaghan
Members

Mr. John Tierney City Manager Dublin City Council
Mr. Martin Riordan County Manager Cork County Council
Ms. Martina Maloney County Manager Galway County Council
Mr. Edmund O’Connor County Manager South Tipperary County Council
Mr. Joe Crockett County Manager Kilkenny County Council
Mr. Conn Murray County Manager Louth County Council
Mr. Michael Raftery Chief Fire Officer Galway County Council
Mr. Brian Sweeney Chief Officer Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service
Mr. Pat Corcoran, IIF Committee Chair, Irish Insurance Federation
Mr. Brian Spain Principal Officer Office of Emergency Planning
Mr. Des Dowling Assistant Secretary DEHLG
Mr. Seán Hogan National Director DEHLG