asked the Minister for Justice if he will give a definite date for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations submitted by the Conroy Report.
39.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conroy Report.
38.
asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the Garda Representative Body on the 12th March, 1970, concerning the implementation of recommendations made by the Conroy Report regarding hours of work, days off and overtime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
40.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the implementation by the Government of the Conroy Commission's recommendations on working hours, a shorter working week, overtime and night duty allowances; and if the Government is aware of serious discontent within the Garda Síochána about the manner in which the implementation of these recommendations is being approached by the Government.
With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 39 and 40 together.
So far from accepting that the Government have been in any way slow in dealing with the recommendations of the Conroy Report, I feel strongly that the exceptional speed with which a number of the main recommendations have been approved leaves no grounds whatsoever for complaint.
As announced already, the Government have approved acceptance of the following main recommendations—
(i) Salary increases with effect from 1st June, 1969 of £2 a week, with a further £1 a week after 15 years service, for gardaí, and £4 a week for sergeants, the cost of which in the financial year ending at the end of this month is £620,000 and in a full year, £800,000 which, with pensionability of 25 per cent, comes to £1,000,000 a year;
(ii) Rent allowances of £2 and £1 a week to married and single members, respectively, who are not living in official accommodation, the cost of which is £570,000 a year;
(iii) Night duty allowances of an additional one-seventh of basic pay for night work, the cost of which is roughly £200,000 a year.
A married garda with 15 years service who is on night duty is gaining a total of £8 15s 4d per week from the items already approved by the Government, that is pay increase, £3; new rent allowance, £2; night duty allowance, £3 15s 4d; and his new pay and emoluments come to £32 2s 8d a week. A sergeant in similar circumstances gains £10 5s 3d a week, and his new pay and emoluments come to £36 1s 9d a week after three years service in the rank.
As regards the question of a reduction in hours the Conroy Commission specifically recognised that difficulty would be experienced in putting into immediate effect some of the recommendations. They said—and I quote from paragraph 1258:
Some of our recommendations can be implemented immediately; others by their nature will take some time.
Before the question of radically reducing the working hours from 48 to 42 can be brought about, there must, to my mind, first be an examination of the structure of the force, of various duties that can be cut down or cut out, the better utilisation of manpower by the closing and reducing of stations with increased mobility and the use of modern equipment and radio units. In fact, this examination is already being carried out by a Garda research and planning unit which has been set up by the commissioner.
Meanwhile the consultative council were informed at a meeting held on last Monday, 16th March, that the Minister for Finance and myself were agreed, in principle, to the reduction from 48 to 42 hours but having regard to the complexities of the problem involved we felt that the reduction should be phased as follows:—
(a) A reduction from 48 hours to 46 hours as from 1st April, 1970;
(b) A reduction from 46 hours to 44 hours as from 1st October, 1970; and
(c) A reduction from 44 hours to 42 hours with effect from 1st April, 1971.
Further, the consultative council has been told that if the activities of the research and planning unit make it acceptable to the commissioner to introduce the phased reduction in hours at dates earlier than those indicated, there will be no objection on my part to his proceeding accordingly.
That is the present position.
I know the Minister has answered many questions he has not been asked but I would ask him if any arrangements have been made to consider the questions of overtime and night duty allowances?
The Deputy should have listened to my reply. I have said that propositions for the granting of overtime, which have been accepted in principle by me, have been made to the Representative Body who operate as a trade union on behalf of the Garda. These propositions are under consideration by them at the moment and it is a question of putting them into effect. If the commissioner can work things out so that it is possible to implement the recommendations at a date earlier than that suggested I shall be quite agreeable to that. I do not think anything could be fairer than that.
The Garda Síochána are doing an excellent job. I realise the Minister has met a large number of the recommendations in the Conroy Report but the Garda Representative Body issued a statement on the 12th instant that if the recommendation in regard to a basic working week, with compensation for overtime, is not met they will hold a ballot to decide what further action they will take. I cannot say what that may lead to but it would be wise to try to head off this situation, if possible.
The consultative council has been in session and these matters have been discussed. This effort has been made to implement the overtime recommendation as soon as that can be done. The principle of overtime has been accepted by the Government. I do not want to dwell on this but, in addition to the figures I have already given, this will cost under £1 million a year. I mention that to show what is involved. I think those who have been handling the situation so competently should be left to do the job. I believe they will work this out quite satisfactorily. They are meeting again next Friday to discuss the position.
In the context of the Government's propositions has any specific date been set for the implementation of the recommendations with regard to overtime and allowances?
May I repeat for the Deputy what I said in my reply to the original question? I want to put on the record that this proposition has actually been put to them——
Containing a date for implementation?
Of course. They have been told the Government have accepted in principle the proposition of overtime. They have been told that from the practical point of view and on the best advice available we feel it will take some time to phase the job. It is a big job. One cannot move 6,000 men around like pawns on a chessboard. If the commissioner can come up with an earlier date I shall not say "No". I do not see how I can be more reasonable than that on this issue.
May I ask——
I am calling Question No. 41.
I do not want to appear to be unduly carping, but——
The Chair has called Question No. 41. The Minister.