Mr. Martin Callinan:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to appear once again before it in my capacity as Accounting Officer for An Garda Síochána. I look forward to discussing any aspect of the Vote with the committee. I have previously supplied briefing material to the committee in response to several queries it has raised and on which it wished to have information.

The strength of An Garda Síochána on 31 December 2010 was 14,377, all ranks. The strength of the force on 31 December 2011 was 13,894, a reduction of 483 members. The strength of the force on 26 October 2012 was 13,476 sworn members, inclusive of all ranks. We are three members fewer today. In total since 31 December 2010, 901 gardaí of all ranks have retired or left the organisation. On 31 December 2011, there were 2,074 full-time equivalent civilian staff employed in an Garda Síochána with a ratio of civilian to sworn members of 1:7. An Garda Síochána remains committed to attaining a lower ratio. However, this is influenced by the current public sector recruitment moratorium. It must also be borne in mind that An Garda Síochána performs security, intelligence and immigration functions that are not performed by many of our comparator police organisations. These additional mandates have an impact on the garda-civilian ratio. The number of full-time equivalent civilian staff employed in An Garda Síochána on 26 October 2012 was 2,031.

This year to date has been challenging and demanding yet An Garda Síochána has had much success operationally and organisationally with decreases in many categories of crime, reductions once again in road fatalities and many successes against dissident republicans intent on causing injury in either this jurisdiction or in Northern Ireland. The efficient use of resources has been highlighted in the annual Garda policing plan 2012. One of its objectives is to promote efficiencies and effectiveness in resource allocation and deployment so as to enhance the policing service we provide to members of the public. However, I am conscious of the need to make the best use of State resources made available to me. With this in mind, I have initiated constructive dialogue with our criminal justice sector partners such as the Courts Service, the Prison Service and the Department of Justice and Equality that will generate further efficiencies in the years to come.

The 2012 budget for the Garda Vote amounts to €1.325 billion, 8% less than the 2011 budget of €1.439 billion which was also reduced from the 2010 figure. The rapid decline in the public finances in recent years requires us all to do more with less. An Garda Síochána is not immune from the effects of the downturn in public finances and we continue to play our part in our nation's economic recovery. The public and other stakeholders expect as efficient and productive an organisation as possible. Indeed, the significant achievement already made by An Garda Síochána in delivering organisational reform is widely recognised. For example, there has been the piloting of a new roster, the first in almost 40 years in the force, and the new performance and accountability system which is due for full roll out in 2013.

In conjunction with these achievements, An Garda Síochána also has a significant organisational development and change programme in operation encompassing my commitments towards the Croke Park agreement, the integrated reform delivery plan and the GRACE, Garda response to a changing environment, programme. This programme has 39 projects either completed or in progress in areas such as a new service delivery model, district and station rationalisation, workforce realignment and an examination of specialisation in the organisation among others.

Up to 90% of the Garda Vote is expended on wages, salaries and allowances. Several allowances were first introduced by the then Government in the Garda Síochána Allowances Order 1924 and 1926. These allowances recognised the unique nature of the work of An Garda Síochána and were awarded in many instances in lieu of basic pay rises over the years. This uniqueness was subsequently recognised by both the Conroy commission in 1970 and the Ryan committee of inquiry in 1979. The Conroy commission recognised the significant impact these allowances had on the morale of the organisation. The debate around allowances has particular resonance in An Garda Síochána similar to other public service organisations and, indeed, has implications for the Croke Park agreement.

The conciliation and arbitration process is one of the negotiating mechanisms which exists for the purpose of enabling the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána on the one hand, and the Garda representative associations on the other, to provide for the determination and validity of claims including pay and allowances.

A further purpose of the conciliation and arbitration process is to secure the agreement and fullest co-operation between the State, as employer, and the members, as employees, for the better discharge of the functions of An Garda Síochána. Indeed, it is a mechanism which has served the State well in that it has ensured the preservation of industrial harmony, while at the same time maintaining confidence and effectiveness in the Garda industrial relations machinery.

For over four decades this mechanism has been utilised by both sides in the initial granting of and subsequent increase in these allowances and expenses for An Garda Síochána. In the case of civilian employees, the trade unions that represent civilians in An Garda Síochána continue to engage and work to ensure their members work efficiently in the organisation.

When the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, published the outcome of the review of public service allowances and premium pay on 18 September 2012 following consideration by Government, one allowance, similar to that in other public sector bodies, namely delegates allowance, was deemed no longer justified.

In addition, the Minister announced that arising from the review a number of changes will be made to the public service allowance regime which included certain allowances for An Garda Síochána. These included classes of allowances proposed to be abolished for new beneficiaries and allowances which were subject to review and-or modification. In addition, it identified classes of allowances proposed to be approved for new beneficiaries. A total of eight allowances were identified within An Garda Síochána for priority elimination.

Following this central Government decision, I have instructed, as part of the revised action plan 2012 for An Garda Síochána in the context of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, that the consultation process will now begin with the Garda staff associations with the objective of establishing a mechanism whereby these priority allowances to existing beneficiaries will be eliminated. This process will include a time scale for the elimination of these allowances.

I will answer any questions the Chairman and committee may have for me.