Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 19:

In page 5, line 9, to delete “Minister” and substitute “Garda Authority”.

This amendment goes back to the same chestnut of trying to garner as much independence as possible for the ombudsman commission with less influence from the Government of the day. If we manage eventually to put in place an independent Garda authority, it will have great potential to make matters better. It will certainly go a long way towards creating a buffer, about which we have spoken, to deal with an overly close relationship between a Minister and a Garda Commissioner. At least there will be some light of day in that regard. Obviously, the structure of the new Garda authority will be paramount and it is important it has a strong element of independence. If that is achieved, it will go a long way towards addressing public confidence in how this authority is structured. It will also make serious inroads into how our police force operates, given it has lacked transparency in how it operated in the past.

Another issue is that the Garda code of conduct, a large document which will more or less outline how a garda should behave, has not been published yet. It would be helpful and important in the interests of transparency that it is published soon. An independent policing authority would have more of an opportunity of holding An Garda Síochána to account on a regular basis. That is what we want. It is not good enough that investigations roll on for some time. What we really need is constant monitoring of how the force works.

This would present a serious challenge to the blue wall of silence that is sadly still in place. It is unfortunate public confidence in the force has dipped so low. This is mainly due to the indiscipline of many members in the senior ranks of the force. It has been very unfortunate that rank-and-file gardaí have suffered dramatically due to indiscipline at senior management level. The Guerin report pointed out that it was striking that censure and discipline in the Bailieborough area only applied to the rank and file when in fact it was management and supervisors who were most at fault for much of the wrongdoings there. Obviously, we will learn more about this in time once the commission of investigation eventually reports. There is a feeling that censure and sanctions are confined to the rank and file when in fact the biggest challenges in the force are how the senior ranks operate and how senior members in different divisions seem to be unaccountable. We have yet to be convinced that the new Garda Commissioner is in control of some of the senior members in the different sections.

Another dimension in developing public confidence in the force will be resources. These are essential to improving how our police force operates. Over the past several years, we have concentrated mainly on the need to change dramatically the culture in the force. Resources are a big issue too. Last week, I received correspondence from one of the new recruits at Templemore Garda College. Although he was dying to get the job, he expressed serious unrest about the fact his starting salary after graduation will only be €23,171 before any tax is deducted. He pointed out that in 2010 there was a pay cut of 10% for gardaí with a further 10% cut for new employees. He stated:

To add to this strain, we are the first batch of recruits who will not be receiving the pensionable rent allowance of approximately €4,000 per annum, an allowance that has been in place since the inception of An Garda Síochána and one that all members of the service rely on and view as regular pay. Worth about €77 per week, the loss of this will really mean the difference between paying the rent and buying enough food for the week for new members. The loss of this allowance is the main issue which we are concerned about. Having met with the GRA, Garda Representative Association, and having highlighted the issue, we feel little is being done to fight for the restoration of this vital allowance.

The situation is simple. When we leave Templemore for our stations later this year, we will all feel that for our fair day’s work, we will not be receiving a fair day’s pay. A starting salary of €23,171 is literally not enough to survive on, especially for many of the recruits who will be sent to Dublin from their home counties and will be faced with higher rents and the need to own a car due to shift work. By the time food bills and fuel come into the equation, members will be in a very difficult place.

I am concerned about this. The garda in question obviously will need a car and will be forced to move from home when he graduates. Only a small percentage of these new recruits will get to stay at home when they graduate. The challenge of running a car and paying rent on a salary of €23,171 is a bit scary. The Government needs to look at this.

Building the morale of the Garda Síochána by improving structures, discipline, transparency and accountability should be matched with good working conditions for all gardaí.

See this speech in context