The trade union Siptu has called for an independent investigation into the fire in Bray, Co Wicklow, on Wednesday in which two firefighters died.
Siptu's full-time firefighters national committee said neither the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) nor Wicklow County Council had "the competencies needed to investigate this tragedy".
The two firefighters who died, Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy, will be buried next week.
The chairman of the full-time firefighters committee, Brian Murray (no relation of the deceased), said: "thankfully, no firefighters have died in a fire since 1936 and while there are a number of fire consultants in this country, they have never had to carry out such an investigation.
"There are very important matters to investigate such as the adequacy of the breathing apparatus procedure, command and control procedures, had the fire authority carried out a risk assessment of the area and whether or not an adequate number of personnel were called out to deal with the fire," he said.
Mr Murray said it was unknown whether sufficient personnel were available. "But we do know that there were budgetary constraints imposed on call-outs by the county council," he said.
Mr Murray said the failure of the Government to implement the recommendations of the Farrell Grant Sparks report on the fire service in 2003 for a properly resourced service needs to be addressed.
"Given the circumstances, it is inappropriate for a body such as the HSA or Wicklow County Council to investigate this tragedy when it has the potential to reflect badly on statutory agencies and the Government itself.
"The British Fire Brigade Union (FBU) and the home office both have plenty of experience of conducting such investigations, and the FBU has pledged us their support . . . An independent investigation by outside experts is essential if we are to find out what happened and ensure this tragedy is never repeated," said Mr Murray.
The Irish Times revealed yesterday the Government did not implement a key recommendation of the report for the introduction of a new National Fire Authority because it did not want to create another "quango".
Mark O'Shaughnessy will be removed to the Queen of Peace Church, Vevay Road, Bray, at 4.30pm today. The funeral Mass will take place at 10am on Monday followed by burial at Springfield Cemetery.
Brian Murray will be removedto the Holy Redeemer Church in Bray at 6pm on Monday. His funeral Mass will take place at the the Holy Redeemer Church at 11am on Tuesday, followed by burial at Springfield Cemetery.
