asked the Minister for Justice whether it is proposed to grant an immediate increase in wages to members of the Garda Síochána with less than five years' service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages of Gardaí With Less Than Five Years' Service.
47.
I am informed that there are no claims or proposals relating to pay increases awaiting determination under the Garda Síochána conciliation and arbitration machinery.
As the House has been told on several occasions, the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the Garda Síochána provides that all matters coming within the scope of the scheme shall fall to be dealt with exclusively through the machinery of the scheme. Such matters include claims relating to pay.
Can the Minister say if, in view of the application, which was made on behalf of the Garda generally and which was decided in an unsatisfactory manner some time ago and caused a lot of dissatisfaction, he has finally decided that he will not give an increase to Garda with less than five years' service?
First of all, I am not prepared to agree at all that the last award was unsatisfactory. As I pointed out to the House some time ago, the last award was accepted at conciliation level and did not go to arbitration. Therefore, it can only be assumed that it was regarded by those representing the Garda as satisfactory. In any event, it is not for me to review an award of that nature at all. Indeed, it is not for me to decide any matter relating to the pay of the Garda Síochána, who have been granted a scheme of conciliation and arbitration. It is impossible to envisage dealing with matters affecting pay or pay claims otherwise than through that machinery.
Mr. Ryan
What does the Minister think the recent protests by over 2,000 members of the Force were except a claim for better conditions for the men who have less than five years' service? In view of their conciliatory action, would the Minister now take off the stuffed shirt and regard the protests as a genuine claim? I can assure him that none of these men will refuse an increase, if he gives it to them. That is what ought to be done.
I think the protests which were made recently were far more concerned with the representative machinery than with any particular issue of pay. I think the Garda Síochána are quite satisfied with the scheme of conciliation and arbitration and I do not think any Deputy speaks for the Garda Síochána in any way when he suggests that we should have matters of pay decided outside that scheme. I think the only way in which we can conduct these affairs in future is through the conciliation and arbitration machinery, which machinery is available at all times to consider any claim in regard to pay put forward by the Garda Síochána. Furthermore, I should like to say that the relations between myself as Minister for Justice and the Garda Síochána were never better than at the moment, and I deplore any attempt to muddy the waters in any way.
Mr. Ryan
Since when were they made clean?
I do not think it is fair of the Minister to suggest that there is any attempt to do what he has suggested.
Mr. Ryan
The Minister has made a mess of it and is now trying to shelve his responsibility.