asked the Minister for Justice the number of (a) station sergeants in Dublin (b) inspectors in Dublin and (c) sergeants in the Garda Síochána at the time of coming into operation of the regulations which discontinued the system of confined promotion to inspector rank from within the station sergeant rank; and what compensation will be provided for station sergeants having regard to the fact that their prospects of promotion have been affected adversely by such regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Promotion Regulations.
23.
Up to 1960 promotions to officer and non-commissioned officer rank in the Dublin Metropolitan Division were confined to personnel serving in the Dublin Metropolitan Division. Promotions to Inspector were confined to station sergeants and the ordinary sergeants in the Dublin Metropolitan Division were not eligible. Promotions elsewhere throughout the Force were reserved to members serving outside the Dublin Metropolitan Division.
The Garda Síochána Promotion Regulations 1960 permitted promotion to officer and non-commissioned officer rank to be made without regard to where members were serving. The Regulations also abolished the distinction between station sergeants and sergeants for promotion purposes. The Regulations were made operative in September, 1963. At that time there were 225 sergeants, 57 station sergeants and 53 Inspectors in the Dublin Metropolitan Division and the corresponding figures in the corresponding area in December, 1966 are 273, 30 and 52.
The promotion prospects of the personnel in the station sergeant rank have not been affected adversely since the pooling arrangements have come into force: in fact, their promotion prospects have become enhanced as they are now eligible to compete for any Inspector post throughout the Force.
It is pertinent to mention that under the new arrangements 25 Inspectors serving in the Dublin Metropolitan Division have secured promotions to the rank of Superintendent whereas under the old arrangements they would have had only eight posts open to them.
I have had no representations from either the Commissioner or the Representative Bodies for the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, or Gardaí that the 1960 Regulations are contrary to the interests of the Force or of any particular group and I am satisfied that such is not the case.
Did the Minister not receive representations from the station sergeants explaining that their promotion prospects had been adversely affected?
I receive representations only from the organised representative bodies of the Garda. I have had no representations in this regard.
Is it the position that the Minister refuses to listen to the complaints?
I will listen to anybody.
The Minister knows well the complaints of a responsible body of men and simply because they are in a minority in the force, he will not listen to them. That is the kind of thing which has led to a number of serious disputes in relation to State employment, because Ministers refused to listen to minorities.
The Deputy is making a statement, not asking a question.
The Minister will listen here because he has to.