The following are the minutes of the CFOA meetings held in ..
, , ,
At Civil Defence Hq, 1st March 2000
IN ATTENDANCE:
M.Fitzimmons (Chairman), C.Murphy, N. Burke, T.McCarthy, D. O’Ceilleachoir, K. Cashin, M. Hanly, K.Caffrey, J.Dunphy, F. Kerrane, M.Raftery, D.Traenor, V.Mulhearn, T.Gleeson, P.Forkan, M..Walsh, S.Murphy, J.O’Shaughnassy, M.Collins, C.McConn, O.O’Loughlin.
APOLOGIES: S.Grogan, J Flynn
1. Additions to the agenda:
Common Fire Service Safety Statement, ‘Fire Call’
Magazine, Operational Foundation Course.
2.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 8th December were amended
(J O’Shaughnassy’s apology had not bee recorded) and adopted by the meeting.
3.
Matters Arising
No reply from phone companies re 999 overload. Sec. to send reminders and ask DoE&LG to reactivate the regular ODTR meetings where CAMP Project Managers could pursue the issue.
4.
Correspondence
NUI Galway had sent the only positive response to the 3rd Level Student award.
5.
Retained Fire Service Review
Unresolved (national) issues may be referred back to the Facilitator. The Dept. of Finance may cancel the future ‘Review’. No significant implementation problems reported. Strong implementation recommended – especially in early quarters. DoE&LG to be urged to carry out national recruitment campaign.
Stress related problems were becoming manifest in many brigades. Members with a written procedure to copy the Sec.
6.
Better Local Government
M Hanly reported that IMPACT was present as an observer at recent SIPTU / LGMSB LRC hearing. Both sides had since made written submissions – expected to lead to Labour Court by end of March and then another SIPTU ballot. He circulated a letter of clarification – to be forwarded to Branch Secretaries – suggesting that Cognates should be involved in local Management / IMPACT discussions. The importance of each CFO making a local submission was emphasised.
An IMPACT sub-committee was seeking clarifications from LGMSB and a further ballot was likely. Sec. to again seek meeting with LGMSB. A meeting with LGMSB on Roster review had not produced an outcome and was also heading for the LRC.
7.
Building Control
P Forkan outlined the details of a submission to BRAB on retrospective Fire Safety Cert. (emphasising need for power to halt construction commenced without a Cert.). He also informed the meeting that it seemed inevitable that FSCert. files will be open to third party scrutiny. He will attempt to have it restricted to the actual Cert. and the relevant drawings and submissions.
8.
Conference 2000
All speakers and other details were confirmed. The one-day rate was recommended to all Senior Officers.
9.
Liaison with National Safety Council
No CFO had been appointed to the new Council. Co-operation with Regional Accident Prevention Committees was recommended.
10.
Liaison with Fire Services
Council.
All members had been re-appointed (as well as ACFO Forrest and a Station Officer from Westmeath). It was felt that the CFOA should make a submission on its view of the qualifications appropriate to all ranks and on how progression from Junior to Senior Officer could be achieved. M Hanly outlined details of proposed Senior Officer Foundation Course and was commended for his initiative (undertaken without FSC input).
11.
Web site
The Chairman outlined the background and his proposal to proceed with development of the existing site - possibly co-ordinated by a volunteer from the Association. The funding for the necessary journalistic input would come from sponsorship from the ‘trade’ (a positive reaction had already been received) rather than from commercial advertising. This proposal was approved unanimously.
12. Regional Action Groups
The Chairman is to convene the convenors and allocate topics. A common specification for Appliances was identified as a priority item.
13.
Motions
The
following motions, submitted in the name of T McCarthy, were unanimously
adopted.
i)
each Vice Chairman should have specific responsibilities i.e.
Public Relations - K.Cashen.,
Liaison with Union and Other Organisations – T.McCarthy
Technical Developments - D.O’Ceilleachoir.
ii)
The Sec. to make a report of each Executive meeting to each general meeting.
iii)
All cheques to be approved at each Executive meeting
(retrospectively).
The following proposal was brought forward by the
Executive:
While the Association considers that the desirable/target turn-out time for the retained service is 5 minutes, the maximum ‘turn-in’ time for firefighters should be 8 minutes and the time allowed for the ‘one-hour payment’ should be a further 4minutes.
After some discussion it was adopted as CFOA policy - pending a further review.
Any other
Business.
M Hanly recommend that CFO’s should monitor closely the adequacy of qualifications of applicants for Senior Officer (temporary and permanent) posts.
Next meeting : 11.00hrs 5th May 2000
Venue: Limerick Inn
Signed : …………………….. Date …………….2000
Chairman top
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Limerick Inn Hotel – 5th May 2000
IN ATTENDANCE:
M.Fitzimmons (Chairman), C.Murphy, N. Burke, T.McCarthy, D. O’Ceilleachoir, K. Cashin, G. Malone, K.Caffrey, J.Dunphy, F. Kerrane, M.Raftery, D.Traenor, T.Gleeson, M..Walsh, S.Murphy, S.Grogan, J.Flynn, M.Collins, O.O’Loughlin.
APOLOGIES: M Hanly
1.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 1st March were adopted by the meeting.
2.
Matters Arising
Secretary reported no satisfactory assurances from phone companies re potential overload problems with 999 system. O O’Loughlin pushing for meeting through CAMP Project Managers. Sec to write to D o Public Enterprise.
3. Correspondence
Only one project submitted to date for 3rd Level Prize.
No success with F o I request to LAC re medical requirements.
Response to F o I request to DoE&LG re: fire stations etc. to be circulated.
Sec to write to CCMA re IMPACTs positive ballot on BLG implementation.
3.
Motions
The following motion - brought forward by the Executive, proposed by K Cashin, seconded by M Collins – adopted unanimously:
The CFOA has no objection to the principal of a fire authority function being performed, or a service delivered, on an inter-county basis.
4.
Chairmans Address to
Conference
The concepts of ‘regionalisation’, ‘standards of fire cover and ‘ national inspectorate’ were discussed without conclusion. Chairman to develop a ‘position’ and revert to the CFOA – with a view to lobbying politicians, etc. The forthcoming 20th Stardust Anniversary may be an opportunity to get attention for the issues.
5.
Conference 2001
S Grogan volunteered to host it in Carlow. It was agreed that a medium term plan was required. The Associations thanks were extended to O O’Loughlin for an excellent conference.
6.
Rostered Senior Fire Officer
Chairman to draw up ‘suitably trained’ requirements for Fire Services Council and try to get IEI on board with regard to qualifications.
7.
Any other Business.
None
Signed : …………………….. Date …………….2000
Chairman top
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Tullamore Fire Station, 15th September
2000
IN ATTENDANCE:
M.Fitzimmons (Chairman), C.Murphy, N. Burke,
T.McCarthy, K. Cashin, M. Hanley, K.Caffrey, J.Dunphy, F. Kerrane, M. Raftery, V
Mulhearn, T.Gleeson, M..Walsh, S.Murphy, J.O’Shaughnassy, S.Grogan, M.Collins,
C.McConn, O.O’Loughlin.
APOLOGIES: G. Malone, D.O’Mahony E. Maguire, D.Traenor, M
Stack
1.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of 5th May were adopted by
the meeting.
2.
AGENDA
The agenda for the meeting was approved.
3.
MATTERS ARISING
None
4.
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from CCMA re meetings was discussed and it was agreed to establish groups for specific tasks for the benefit of the members (despite the misgivings of a number of members) e.g. fire station design. Sec to write to DoE seeking input into the Draft Fire Station Specification which appears to exist.
Letter from IMPACT (and reply) discussed.
M.Hanly outlined position regarding anticipated meeting
with LGMSB.
5. FIRE
SERVICE REVIEW
The Executive is currently considering options for a ‘re-design’ of the entire fire service. The proposed changes to The Fire Services Act, 1981 (which are believed to be with the parliamentary draughtsman) were discussed.
6.
CONFERENCE 2001
Theme will be Environmental Protection. Some speakers
had been arranged.
7.
COMMON APPLIANCE SPECIFICATION
Some differences with the DoE (Technical staff) had still
to be resolved. The meeting approved the document.
8.
ROSTERED SENIOR OFFICER
Chairman’s proposal for qualification - including
‘Essential’ and ‘Desirable’ courses, were discussed.
9. ANY
OTHER BUSINESS
M Walsh proposed C Traenor and H O’Neill for membership
of the Association – seconded by T Gleeson and approved unanimously.
Signed : ……………………..
Date …………….2000
Chairman top
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The December minutes ara not available at present.