Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 2

Written Answers. - Garda Síochána Pensions.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

63 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to permit the inclusion of overtime and allowances in the assessment of Garda pensions for members who retired from the force between 1986 and 1993; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12901/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Machinery for the determination of claims and proposals relating to conditions of service for members of the force up to an including the rank of chief superintendent is provided under the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the Garda Síochána.

Matters appropriate for discussion by the Garda conciliation council for ranks covered by the scheme include, inter alia, principles governing superannuation. Under the terms of the scheme this is not an arbitrable matter.

In 1982 a claim by the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to have a number of allowances which are paid to members of the force made pensionable resulted in a disagreed report of the Garda conciliation council. Although, as indicated, this was not an arbitrable matter, the terms of the Second National Understanding, then operable, allowed the matter go before the Garda Síochána Arbitration Board. The board produced its report No. 15 in March 1983 which recommended that certain allowances, including rent allowance, be made pensionable with effect from 1 October 1982. The recommendations contained in the Garda Síochána Arbitration Board report No. 15 have been fully implemented. The report specified that a number of allowances — collectively known as unsocial hours allowances — should not be made pensionable.

Following prolonged discussions at the Garda conciliation council agreement was reached in March 1994 which provided,inter alia, for the pensionability of unsocial hours allowances for members of the force of garda, sergeant and inspector rank who retired after 1 January 1993. The agreement was reached under the terms of the local bargaining clause — clause 3 — of the agreement on pay and conditions which formed part of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. That claim does not allow for retrospection. It should be noted that overtime is not pensionable.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Commission on Public Service Pensions, announced recently by the Minister for Finance, is to examine and report on the pension terms of all public servants, including the Garda Síochána.