Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
103. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the interdepartmental working group preparing heads of Bills and legislation on providing access for An Garda Síochána to the State's industrial relations structures contains any persons from the Garda representative associations; if not, the reason for their exclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12870/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, following the approval of Government for the drafting of the Heads of a Bill to afford the Garda Associations access to the Workplace Relations Commissions and the Labour Court, a Working Group to assist in the consideration of these matters was established.
In addition to the technical legislative changes that will be required, a number of important and complex issues will fall to be considered in this context, including the status of the Garda Associations established under the Garda Síochána Acts and the related question of constraints on members taking industrial action. The Working Group brings together the appropriate Government Departments and bodies with expertise and responsibility in these areas.
The Working Group has been asked to report in relation to the Heads of the Bill by 31 May to allow sufficient time for the necessary legislation to be enacted this year. The Working Group has also been asked to consider and report to me by 31 October on the internal industrial relations processes and procedures to be put in place in the Garda Síochána in the context of the granting of access to the WRC and Labour Court.
I have made it clear in my discussions with the Garda Associations that I believe that it is critical to their being granted access to the WRC and Labour Court, that their views are communicated to the Working Group. I have also made clear to the Chair of the Working Group, the highly respected former Secretary General of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr John Murphy, that the Associations should be consulted right through the process.
I understand that the first consultation session with the Garda Associations took place on Thursday last, 16 March and I am informed that the Working Group will shortly circulate a consultation paper to the Associations setting out options in relation to the key issues. Further consultations will follow between then and the completion of this phase of the work in May. It is vitally important that the Associations take advantage of the opportunity being provided, to engage positively and constructively with the Working Group, in order to ensure that any conclusions reached or proposals made by the Group are informed by the views of the Associations.
The inclusion of the Garda Associations in this intensive consultation process is proof positive of the Government's commitment to creating an industrial relations architecture in the Garda Síochána that delivers for its members and for the public who rely on them to provide the policing and security service of the State.
