asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been directed to notices that Gardaí in Laois-Offaly at a meeting in Portarlington passed a resolution that Guards be allowed to convene freely to discuss better conditions of pay and that Gardaí from Cavan-Monaghan at a meeting in Cavan passed a resolution that Gardaí be allowed to convene freely like all other citizens; if these reports are accurate or are fabrications; and if there is any prohibition of Gardaí meeting freely to discuss matters affecting them in their lives and service, including pay, pension and conditions of service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meetings of Gardaí.
64.
The meetings in question were held under the new Garda Síochána Representative Bodies Regulations and their primary purpose was to elect representatives to the Area Committees. The meetings were held in private and the Regulations provide that "a statement or other communication regarding the proceedings (of a District Committee, Divisional Committee or Area Committee) shall not be made or issued for publication in any form whatsoever." No such statements were issued and no resolutions of the sort referred to have been communicated to the Garda authorities.
There seems to be some misunderstanding of the position regarding the right of members of the Garda to meet for purposes of discussing matters of pay, conditions of service and so on and I welcome this opportunity of stating what exactly the position is. The Garda Síochána (Disciplinary) Regulations 1926 provide for the holding of authorized meetings of members of the Force and in addition the new Garda Síochána (Representative Bodies) Regulations provide for meetings of the District, Divisional and Area Committees who may arrange for the attendance at their meetings of any members they wish.
In these circumstances I believe that the members of the Garda Síochána have adequate facilities for discussing all matters affecting their conditions of service. If, however, experience of the new machinery shows, that there is still room for improvement it is open to any of the Representative Bodies, at any time, to put forward suggestions for consideration.
Is it a fact that what the Minister has said is based on the 1926 Act?
No.
Is it a fact that under the 1926 Act, certain rights were given to the members of the Garda Síochána to meet and discuss pay conditions? In view of the fact that this is the year 1962, surely there is nothing wrong in members of the Force meeting and discussing matters in relation to their pay and conditions.
I read out that the Garda Síochána Regulations of 1926, not the Act of 1926, provide for the holding of authorised meetings of members of the Force and, further, that the new regulations provide for meetings of the district, and divisional and area committees who may arrange for the attendance at their meetings of any members they wish.
Is it not a fact that there are still regulations in force under the Act of 1926 and that they are not entitled to meet as free citizens of the State?
That is not so. The Garda Síochána are entitled, under the regulations, to hold meetings of the sort I have mentioned. If, when we have had some experience of the working of the new machinery, it appears that there is room for improvement, it will be open to any of the bodies to put forward suggestions for consideration.
Is it not a fact that the Minister utilised the provisions of the Dance Halls Act to get members of the Detective Branch in on the discussions of the members?
That is completely untrue.