Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
252. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to the establishment of an independent pay review body for An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43213/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, decisions around public service pay policy or the establishment of any body to review public sector pay including An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and as such, I have no direct role in the matter.
Further and as the Deputy may be aware, the issues around how the Garda associations should make representations with regard to pay and related conditions were the subject of deliberation by the Working Group on Garda Industrial Relations. This Group delivered its report in July 2017. Having considered, as part of its remit, submissions in relation to independent pay review mechanisms, the Working Group expressed the view that matters relating to pay and associated conditions in An Garda Síochána are suitable to be determined in the context of the central negotiations that have supported successive public service agreements over recent years.
The Working Group recommended in its Report, which has been endorsed by Government, that the Garda Associations should in all cases be enabled to make representations with regard to overall pay issues and related conditions in a manner which is no less advantageous than the facilities available to other public servants. This includes access for Garda members, through their representative associations, to the centralised collective bargaining arrangements through which public service pay determination is conducted. I am satisfied that the pay determinations are the most appropriate in the current circumstances.
