Chairman hosts reception for representatives of Emergency Services to mark Emergency Services Day

10th September 2021

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Emergency Services reception

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Errol Thompson recently hosted a reception in the Council Offices for representatives of the Emergency Services to mark Emergency Services Day which took place on Thursday 9 September 2021

Please see below for the full text of Councillor Thompson’s address at the reception.

” Distinguished guests, fellow Councillors

As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all to the Council Offices this afternoon, to this reception to celebrate Emergency Services Day 2021.

As you are no doubt aware, Emergency Services Day is a day celebrated across the UK and supported by the UK government and devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to support the heroic men and women of the emergency services who give so much of themselves in the service of others.

Emergency Services Day also affords us the opportunity to promote the work of the emergency services, promote the concept of  using the emergency services responsibly and promotes the many career and volunteering opportunities available.

Volunteers are an essential part of the emergency services family and they play a core part in keeping Britain safe. Volunteer roles include; Retained Firefighters, NHS Community Responders, St John Ambulance, Order of Malta, RNLI, Search and Rescue and Coastguard volunteers.

I am delighted, on behalf of the people of the Fermanagh and Omagh District, to have the opportunity to honour the work of the Emergency Services which is undertaken, quite often at the risk of serious injury and tragically sometimes, paying the ultimate price while doing their duty.

There is no doubt that the last 18 months have been particularly challenging for some of our emergency services

I am pleased that we are joined today by representatives of Police Service for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Trust, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Community Rescue, North West Mountain Rescue, Maritime and Coastguard Service, Search and Rescue Dogs Association, Ireland North, Air Ambulance and Irish Cave Rescue Organisation. Ladies and gentlemen, please convey to your colleagues, our grateful appreciation and thanks for all their selfless work.

In concluding, can I on behalf of all the residents of the district, thank you for the life-saving and special work you do and thank you also for the personal sacrifices you make in carrying out your jobs.”