Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

I thank the noble Lord for bringing the order before the Committee. He is having a hard day today. I hope that we are not giving him too rough a time. I recognise the excellent work that the Northern Ireland fire service has done over the past I do not know how many years. It has taken flak and rubbish from all over the place and done a sterling job. It is not very often that we get a chance to recognise that in Parliament, and I do so now. The notes to the order do not say anything about consultation. I should like to be reassured that consultation has taken place with the fire service, management, unions and so on. I should also like to be reassured that people within the fire service understand any changes to their terms and conditions or working practices that may follow from this legislation. I sincerely hope that nothing in the order will cause any disruption, because firemen throughout the nation and all over the world are wonderful people. There have been troubles with employee relations in the fire service in the United Kingdom. I sincerely hope that there is nothing in the order that has not been clarified and agreed with the representatives of the service’s men and women. That said, I support the order.