Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 2

Written Answers. - Garda Pay Dispute.

Jack Wall

Question:

13 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the meetings, if any, he has held with staff associations of the gardaí in relation to the ongoing pay negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11501/98]

Liz McManus

Question:

16 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí who reported ill on 1 May 1998; the proportion of gardaí originally rostered for duty on that day that this figure represents; the steps, if any, being taken to guarantee adequate policing and security generally in view of the continuing dispute and, in particular, the policing and security needs of the Tour de France, including those specified by the French police authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11364/98]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

34 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether he will appoint an independent and acceptable trouble-shooter to resolve the industrial relations dispute with the gardaí; whether he will lift the prohibition on trade union membership for members of the gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11512/98]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

52 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, he has taken to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute with members of the gardaí; the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure the provision of adequate policing in the event of future disruptions to the service provided by the gardaí as occurred on 1 May 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11511/98]

Derek McDowell

Question:

96 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will institute a full review of Garda remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9513/98]

Ivor Callely

Question:

141 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the outstanding issues regarding Garda pay; the criteria that prevail in consideration of these matters; the way these criteria are established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11587/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 16, 34, 52, 96, 129 and 141 together. The origins of the current Garda pay dispute predate the formation of the present Government.

In 1994 the Garda Representative Association concluded an agreement under the local bargaining clause of the PESP-PCW pay agreement which they accepted at the time as full and final settlement of that clause.

In November 1996, the GRA lodged a pay claim at the Garda Conciliation Council. Early in 1997, there were open meetings and protests in support of this claim. Its demand for a special Commission on Garda pay was not accepted by the previous Government.

Since I have taken office, I have overseen the healing of the split in the Garda Representative Association and following intensive discussions which I and officials of my Department had with the Garda associations late last year, a mechanism was found whereby Garda pay issues could be discussed.

The mechanism was related to the Government decision in late November last to set up a steering group to implement what is called the Garda SMI Report. Mr. Declan Brennan was appointed as a member of the steering group and he was also appointed to act as an independent chairman of the discussions between official and staff representatives on issues of pay and conditions of members of the Garda Síochána.

Discussions commenced under the chairmanship of Mr. Brennan just before Christmas. Following a number of meetings, the official side made an offer of a 5.5 per cent pay increase in separate discussions on 1 April 1998 with the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors. Neither association was satisfied with the offer and withdrew from the talks.

The independent chairman of the pay talks subsequently invited the GRA and AGSI to separate meetings to discuss developments. Arising out of these contacts the chairman made a recommendation that the offer to the associations be increased to 7 per cent stating that he was satisfied, based on discussions to that date, that productivity discussions due to take place would yield savings that would justify, at that stage, an increase to 7 per cent. He recommended that an offer of this amount should form the basis for resumption of talks. His recommendation was accepted by the Minister for Finance and myself on 18 April 1998, and the substance of it was conveyed immediately to the general secretaries of both associations.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors returned to the negotiating table on 23 April and discussion on its pay claim has resumed but the Garda Representative Association did not return. I met with it several times and urged it without success to return to negotiations. As Deputies are aware, members of the GRA engaged in a day of protest on 1 May 1998 and shortly afterwards on Friday, 8 May I met with officers of the GRA to discuss the pay issue but unfortunately no progress was made.

I addressed the GRA conference on 12 May 1998 and urged delegates to desist from protest action and to return to the pay discussions. I have also pursued informal contacts with the leadership of the GRA to see if some method can be found to bring the GRA back into negotiations. These efforts are continuing and the opportunity for further discussions on pay remains open.

This is a dispute essentially about pay. It is in the nature of things that disputes of this kind are portrayed as a dispute between the Government of the day and a particular association. The Government's only concern in this matter is the public interest. The Government would be completely failing in its duty if it came to a settlement with one particular sector which would in reality jeopardise the economic progress which we have made. Other public service unions have already made clear privately what they see as the inevitable implication of the Government adopting such an approach. It is not in the long-term interests of the community, including members of the Garda themselves and their families, for the economic progress which we have made to be jeopardised in this way. There are no easy solutions here.

I fully accept that the Garda rank and file feel they have a genuine grievance over pay and I am very eager to try and resolve the matter. However, the Garda pay dispute is only going to be settled in the context of pay negotiations and it is vital, therefore, that the Garda Representative Association come back to the negotiating table.

A number of issues have been raised concerning involvement in national wages agreement, a special mechanism for reviewing Garda pay, membership of trade unions and involvement of third party mediators.

I point out, first of all, that we already have an independent chairman, Mr. Declan Brennan, formally of the Labour Court. He was chairing discussions between the Garda Representative Association and the official side but the Garda Representative Association walked out of those discussions. At the recent GRA conference, its president made it clear that he was not interested in any other form of third party mediator being introduced.

I have told the Garda Representative Association that I am willing to have discussions to identify a mechanism to involve them in the discussions leading to agreement in the next national programme. The essence of the current dispute is that the Garda Representative Association wants to see a higher no strings attached pay offer while the official side has made it clear that any increase on the existing offer must be linked to productivity. I remind Deputies that the awards to nurses and prison officers all involved productivity.

My door is always open to the Garda representation and I will continue to explore how progress can be achieved.

Details were sought by some Deputies on industrial action by gardaí and plans for dealing with it. As you know, on 1 May 1998 a significant number of gardaí did not report for duty. I am informed by the Garda authorities, that 4,586 Gardaí reported sick on that day which represents 82 per cent of the total number of gardaí rostered.

The Garda authorities had contingency plans and ensured that a proper policing service was available by making full use of those of Garda rank, including those on probation, who did report for duty, of student gardaí and of sergeant rank and above. I wish to pay tribute to all those who, in the true tradition of the gardaí, did report for duty and who worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the public was not endangered.

In particular, I wish to put on record my personal appreciation for the dedication to duty shown by the members of the gardaí involved in foiling the attempt to rob a Securicor van near Ashford.

I am aware of reports that the Garda Representative Association is considering further industrial action including in particular the disruption of the arrangements for the Tour de France stages scheduled for Ireland in July.

My priority is to get the Garda Representative Association to return to negotiations as soon as possible. That is where the question of Garda pay will be resolved. I sincerely hope that they will have returned to the negotiating table well before the Tour de France in July.

Once again I would ask for the support of this House in encouraging the Garda Representative Association to take the path of negotiation rather than confrontation.