Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am, indeed. I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

We learned yesterday that the Garda Representative Association, GRA, had voted to take industrial action on four days in November. This is an unprecedented development which will have serious consequences not just for the Garda force but also for the public. Unlike other workers, gardaí do not have the right to strike. The reason for this is they are responsible for the safety of the State. An Garda Síochána has always served the State with great pride and its members take an oath to defend the public and the State, but their decision to strike shows that there is rampant demoralisation and anger within the force. This has happened in the past few years. Like other public sector workers, gardaí have faced pay cuts and a reduction of 2,000 in their numbers since 2009. In addition, more than 100 Garda stations have been closed.

The Government has been aware that an industrial relations issue has been brewing in the Garda for some time. It has been in place for five months and one of the biggest issues on its agenda is public service pay and industrial relations problems within the public sector. In recent months deals have been done in respect of low grade entry nurses and teachers and allowances for firefighters, yet the Government only entered into what it thought was an agreement with the GRA late last Friday evening. It is to be regretted that the Government, unfortunately, has stumbled and stalled in dealing with the challenges facing An Garda Síochána.

We spend many hours in the House discussing and critiquing the performance of An Garda Síochána, whether it be through reports from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC; the Policing Authority, the Garda Inspectorate or commissions of investigation. Do the Tánaiste and the Government recognise that all of these reports and critiques will be meaningless unless we have a Garda force in which morale is good and in which gardaí feel valued by the State and have a sense of pride in their work? Morale is low because of members' terms and conditions, for which the Tánaiste still has responsibility. The Commissioner, GSOC and the Garda Inspectorate are not responsible. The grievances of gardaí have not been treated seriously by the Government.

In the confidence and supply agreement my party entered into with Fine Gael it was agreed that a public service pay commission would be established. When will it be established? Can the Tánaiste give a commitment to the House that the Government does not intend to allow a Mexican stand-off between the GRA and the State? Will she re-engage with the GRA? What is her plan to resolve the dispute?

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