asked the Minister for Justice the composition of the committee to review Garda pay; its terms of reference and when a report may be expected.
452.
Written Answers. - Garda Pay Review Committee.
451.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that the terms of reference of the committee to review Garda pay are adequate.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.
The composition of the Committee of Inquiry is:
Dr. W.J.L. Ryan (Chairman),
Mr. Roderick J. O'Hanlon, SC,
Dr. Gerard Quinn,
Mr. Sean Ó Murchú
and
Mr. Redmond Power.
Their terms of reference are:
To consider, report and make recommendations to me on—
(a) the appropriate rates of pay for ranks of the Garda Siochána up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent;
(b) problems in regard to differentials and earnings for different ranks and for particular groups within ranks arising from earnings or differences in earnings on overtime and during unsocial hours;
(c) the extent to which types of work at present performed by members of the force could appropriately and with advantage be undertaken by civilians, and the way in which changes in this regard should be implemented;
(d) a scheme of accelerated promotion for selected and specially-trained members; and
(e) whether there should be a scheme to supplement the standard recruitment arrangements for the force by the recruitment through special competitions of a limited number of persons with higher qualifications and, if so, the conditions on which such persons should be recruited, the rate of pay which should apply to them, and the arrangements which should be made for their subsequent assimilation to the rank structure of the force.
I am satisfied that the terms of reference, which were agreed with representatives of the four Garda bodies concerned, are adequate.
I have intimated to the committee that I recognise that theirs is a task that must be carried out with great care and thoroughness and because that is so, although there is a fair degree of urgency, there is no wish on anybody's part to put pressure on them to produce a report in so short a time that they could not do their job as it should be done. There is of course no question of a time limit. The committee will be the best judges as to how they should proceed about their business taking the time that is necessary, while at the same time being conscious of the need to do it as quickly as possible.