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

Deputies are aware that Garda Representative Association officials have been working with the Labour Court and that the Labour Court has said that it will give a decision tomorrow. While we are speaking about the dispute, the Labour Court is meeting the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to consider its submissions and the official submissions.

I still continue to appeal to both organisations to pull back from the brink. I call on them to stand back and suspend tomorrow's action to allow the time and space for the Labour Court to continue its work. It is the highest arbitration we have in the land. All the various mechanisms of industrial relations have been made available to An Garda Síochána, including the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. The GRA has also agreed that a ballot will take place. I maintain we should give time for that ballot and ensure we have the space and time for people to consider what will be on the table after the Labour Court makes its recommendation. I appeal to both organisations to withdraw.

Deputy O'Callaghan made some point about the legislation. We have said that will be urgently considered. The Taoiseach made that very clear yesterday. I have been making it clear for a considerable period that the Government accepts gardaí should have access to the Workplace Relations Commission, to all associated mechanisms and to the Labour Court. We have acted and they have it in shadow form at present.

Deputy O'Callaghan made a point about recent events. Only some weeks ago AGSI members accepted the negotiations being done by the Government in a secret ballot of their members by 70% to 30%. Clearly, the negotiations had made progress at that point. Let us further consider the timeline around what has happened. The members of the GRA were in negotiations over a long period of several months. Then, on a Friday evening, they said they had accepted the offer that was on the table and they would go to their executive. That is the history. Then, I urgently invited the associations back in to have discussions. That process eventually led to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. As I have said, we are awaiting the outcome.

Deputy O'Callaghan made a point about contingency planning. Let us be clear: the Commissioner has of course at all times been considering this. She has sent out the letter to ascertain what numbers will be available. GRA representatives have said that in the event of their strike going ahead they will co-operate with the Commissioner to ensure a basic policing service will be in place so that emergencies can be responded to.

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