Firefighters will suspend strike action on Monday and talks will be held instead. 

The decision to suspend industrial action came after the Labour Council invited both sides to sit down for exploratory talks. 

Trade union SIPTU accepted the offer but warned strike action could well restart on Tuesday. 

“Strike action will be suspended on Sunday night at 12 o’clock for 24 hours,” Bray-based firefighter Brian Murray said. 

“Up until that point, rolling strikes will continue. 

“If Monday doesn’t favour us, an all out strike is still on the cards for Tuesday as planned.” 

Fire engine leaves its fire station.

Speaking to RTÉ, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said he supported giving firefighters a pay rise. 

"The matter that needs to be resolved, in my view, needs to be resolved through the public sector pay talks which start informally next month," he said.

"My department remains in contact, we obviously want the situation to de-escalate… Further contact is being made today and over the weekend and I would be just encouraging people to use the apparatus that we have to be able to deal with this particular matter.” 

Retained - or part-time - firefighters are paid an annual salary of €8,500 and an additional fee for each additional call out they attend. 

SIPTU says the figure of €8,500 has not increased in years - despite soaring inflation - and they have raised concerns about its impact on recruitment and retention. 

Main image: Fire engines outside a fire station. Picture by: Alamy.com