Fórsa wants Covid-19 test results for Dublin’s fire fighters and paramedics analysed and returned on a priority basis, after it emerged that 12 have tested positive for the virus. Many more have had to self-isolate.

But Fórsa representative Maria Markey spoke of fire fighters’ pride in their contribution during the crisis. “Despite the risk to themselves and their families, Dublin fire fighters proudly go to work every day in the knowledge that they do so in an effort to keep the community safe,” she said.

The union has insisted that fire fighters should be treated in the same way as other workers at frequent risk of coming into contact with the virus.

At weekly union-management meetings, Fórsa reps have heard management say they are working to have fire brigade staff prioritised for testing and the rapid return of test results.

However, Fórsa official Dessie Robinson said the availability of tests and results was still too slow almost two months into the crisis.

“Fire fighters and paramedics are treating every call-out as a possible coronavirus case. They are in daily contact with patients who have tested positive for the virus, and this has put huge pressure on them,” he said.

Meanwhile, a number of Fórsa members in the service have been moved to a temporary emergency control room in the O’Brien institute on the Malahide Road. This was set up as a resilience measure in the event of the HQ control room becoming affected.

The union has sought and received a written guarantee that all calls will return to HQ in Tara Street when the emergency measures abate.