John Gormley
Question:273 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reasons pay parity for the Garda Síochána with equivalent Civil Service grades has not been forthcoming. [10678/98]
Written Answers. - Garda Pay.
Under the local bargaining clause of the PCW it was open to each group in the Public Service to conduct separate negotiations in pursuit of their own claims. Both the GRA and AGSI settled early in the process and accepted a pensions deal which made their unsocial hours earnings reckonable for pensions purposes.
Other groups in the Public Service settled later for agreements which provided for pay increases and also included elements of productivity and savings in order to meet the PCW cost requirements. Given these different approaches it was agreed to re-examine the situation of the Garda Síochána. Pay discussions between the official side and the various Garda associations were commenced under an independent chairperson, Mr. Declan Brennan. The Garda associations made both written and oral submissions and the official side made an offer of a 5.5 per cent increase to both the GRA and AGSI by reference to the norm for PCW local bargaining for the Public Service generally. However, the offer also provided for the continuation of discussions to see whether further possibilities existed by identifying improved productivity and savings. This was in line with the approach adopted for other Public Service grades.
The AGSI has accepted an invitation from the independent chairperson to pursue this avenue but the GRA, regrettably, has not. I would strongly urge the GRA to return to the pay discussions where I feel a satisfactory solution can be agreed. I am satisfied that this is the only way to progress the matter.