DUP European Candidate, Diane Dodds has expressed her opposition to the provisions of the European Working Time Directive which, if implemented, would limit firefighters to 48 hours a week.

She was speaking out after a meeting with Fire Brigade Union leaders at Enniskillen Station. There, she discussed the impact that new EU working hours rules would have upon the capacity of the Fire Brigade to guarantee public safety, especially in rural communities.

Under the proposals, part-time working hours would come under the remit of the draft legislation as would on-call time. This would mean that both active and non active service in the Fire Brigade would be limited to a maximum of 48 hours per week.

Mrs Dodds said it was a vitally important issue, ensuring the safety of the public and protecting the service provided by our fire brigade staff.

"The proposals contained in this, the latest half-baked working time directive to emanate from Brussels," she claimed, "would put protecting the Northern Ireland public at risk, especially in our rural areas.

"If implemented," she went on, "it would see staff costs soar in order to employ more full time staff. In the current financial climate, this would not be easily achieved. It would also force many women out of the work-place. A strict application of the directive would mean that for periods of time, our fire brigades would be unable to provide the necessary cover. This has grave implications for public safety."

Mrs Dodds said the directive would also have serious implications for Coastguard and other emergency services. She promised her Party would apply pressure on the government to ensure the maintenance of the United Kingdom opt-out clause.

"We will fight to see that this foolish legislation is not enforced here, with all the disastrous consequences that would flow from that," Mrs Dodds concluded.