asked the Minister for Justice if in view of the considerable increase in pay rates to be paid to members of the police forces of Great Britain and Northern Ireland he will consider increasing substantially the present pay rates of members of the Garda Síochána in order to bring them up to parity with the rates in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to help reduce the loss of members of the Garda Síochána to the more attractive conditions offered in Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pay Rates of Garda.
26.
A scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for members of the Garda Síochána up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent, which came into operation in June, 1959, provides that all matters coming within the scope of the scheme will be dealt with exclusively through the machinery of the scheme. Such matters include claims and proposals relating to pay.
The present rates of pay of members of the Force covered by the scheme, which are contained in the Garda Síochána Pay Order, 1960, followed from the Government decision to give effect in full to the findings of the Arbitration Board which sat in April last to consider a claim for increases of pay.
Surely the situation has now radically changed in the light of this new remarkably generous reward by the British Government, and supported by the Northern Ireland Government? In the circumstances, would the Minister not reconsider the whole question of the very inadequate rates of pay paid to the Garda?
The machinery is available now for the first time in the history of the Force and it is operating, as far as I can find out, quite satisfactorily. If the Garda Síochána desire to make representations through either conciliation or arbitration they are perfectly entitled to do so.
Does the Minister consider that the machinery will be sufficient to stop members of the Garda Síochána being induced to cross the water to get the higher rates of pay?
I am satisfied they can get their rights through this machinery.