Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am always available to meet the Garda associations to discuss issues of concern, as is the Garda Commissioner. The Commissioner met the executive committees of all the representative bodies in recent days to discuss issues arising from the recent negotiations on extending the Croke Park agreement.

I am disappointed both the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, chose not to participate in these negotiations which were facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission. This was the opportunity for the associations to raise issues of concern and put their point of view on how best savings could be achieved in the Garda Síochána. I understand that anything that impacts on the pay and-or conditions of their members is a matter of grave concern for the GRA, AGSI and every member of the force, but that is the case for all unions and associations. It would have been far better if both associations had stayed at the table, talked through these options and engaged in the process of negotiation.

It is not the case, as has been suggested, that the associations were in some way excluded from real negotiations. It is true they are not trade unions and are not, therefore, represented by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. While this means there must be parallel negotiations with the associations, it does not make, nor would it have made, such negotiations any less real, and they have not been any less real in the past. Exactly the same position applied to the Defence Forces associations and they concluded a deal with their management counterparts which was facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission. Parallel negotiations were also conducted with the Prison Officers Association, even though they are represented by congress, because of the unique issues which arise in the Prison Service. No one is saying the prison officers were disadvantaged by such sectoral talks or that the Prison Officers Association was not serving the best interests of its members by remaining engaged in the talks.

The GRA and AGSI chose to leave this process. Despite repeated calls from the Taoiseach, myself and others, they refused to re-enter the talks where they may have shaped the outcome in the best interests of their members, as did other unions and associations.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In the words of the Garda Representative Association, "the GRA executive rejected all such proposals that included a cut in Garda pay and decided we would not participate in any process that proposed such cuts". In the case of AGSI, its executive stated: "removing AGSI from the talks was in the best interest of members to protect core pay which includes allowances". It is only in recent days that it has been suggested the associations were excluded from the talks.

Both the Commissioner and I are always available to engage in constructive and meaningful discussions on matters affecting members of the Garda Síochána. However, it must be clearly understood that any such engagement in the context of these proposals most certainly cannot be interpreted as representing an attempt to re-open negotiations on the proposals which emerged from the talks in Lansdowne House from which the AGSI and the GRA withdrew. Those proposals stand as they are.

I recognise the important role that members of the Garda Síochána play in society. It is especially praiseworthy that they have shown this dedication and commitment in these most difficult times. At an individual level, there have been pay reductions, and for the force in general there are constraints on its budget. I fully understand how difficult this is at an individual and operational level and I earnestly wish things were different. The Government's aim in engaging in the negotiations was to achieve the necessary €1 billion in savings in the public sector payroll, to try to protect the basic pay of public servants at the lower end of the scale and to ensure an equitable contribution from all. We must cut our cloth to suit our measure and no sector of the public service can argue it is different from everybody else and the cuts cannot apply to them.

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