Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has assured the families of two firefighters killed in a fire in Bray, Co Wicklow last year that the Government will take action to address the issues raised in inquiries into the fatal blaze.
A firefighter leaving the disused factory off Dargle Road in Bray, last September
Brian Murray (46), a father of 15, and colleague Mark O'Shaughnessy (26), both from Bray, died last September when the roof of a disused factory in the town caved in on them.
The Murrays and O'Shaughnessys met Mr Ahern at Leinster House today where they outlined what they view as deficiencies in the county's fire service. They repeated their call for an independent inquiry.
In a statement afterwards, the Taoiseach's office said he had conveyed his sympathies to Mr Murray's widow Mary, her children and grandchildren and to Mr O'Shaughnessy's family - his girlfriend Hazel, his brother Eamonn, who were in attendance, and to his mother and sister.
"The meeting covered the concerns expressed by the families for the safety of the people of Bray, as well as improvements to the fire services, as sought by them, in the area, and also their call for an independent investigation."
"The Taoiseach assured the families that the Government will seek to address all the issues arising from the findings of current investigations. The Government also continues to support the development of modern and safe fire services for the community of Bray and nationwide," the statement said.
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Murray's wife Mary said: "People need to understand what has been going on in Bray which has now led to the deaths of two firefighters. "The deaths have so far changed nothing."
The families last week attended a meeting of the joint Oireachtas Environment Committee at which they called for an independent inquiry into the fire.
They say the inquiries by the Garda, Wicklow County Council and the Health and Safety Authority were not independent.
Last September, the trade union Siptu called for an independent investigation into the fire.
Siptu's full-time firefighters national committee said neither the Health and Safety Authority nor Wicklow County Council had "the competencies needed" to investigate the tragedy.