Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. That is why my Department has engaged very intensively with the GRA and it is absolutely open, as am I, to meeting to resolve the outstanding issues. It is in the interest of everybody in the country. It is in the interest of An Garda Síochána, as the Deputy rightly said, and of the legal system across the board. Of course, we wish to ensure that we can resolve this. However, it is important that we find a pathway towards pay resolution and restoration. I heard a representative of the GRA say that this morning. It is imperative that we find that way forward and I believe we can. We have shown good faith in the discussions that have taken place already. A range of issues was on the agenda and among the areas addressed in those talks were: the lifting of the increment freeze, backdated; the restoration of the rent allowance; promotion opportunities to be increased on a pro ratabasis with increasing Garda numbers; review of An Garda Síochána to be completed by the end of the year; commitment to review the appropriateness of voluntary overtime; no overtime this year and, by agreement with the Garda Commissioner, in the course of next year and the following year; and a range of other items on the table. There is a very serious commitment to examine the issues.

I will conclude by pointing out, and I know this particularly well because I meet so many gardaí in the course of my work, that we know how much gardaí suffered as a result of the economic meltdown. The financial problems of a garda married to another garda were doubled. As in the case of other public servants, the Government is committed to finding a way forward. On the question about the public service pay commission, the closing date has passed for submissions from various bodies. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has had the consultation process and will make a statement shortly on the establishment of that commission.

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