Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform formally invited public sector unions to commence talks on a successor to the Lansdowne Road agreement. Having gone through two rounds of public sector pay talks, I reiterate my view that this is very late in the day. Of course, I wish the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, well in his negotiations. A fair deal that recognises the sacrifices made by public servants over recent years would be very welcome.

In the course of the forthcoming talks, the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, will head the trade union side. I welcome the fact the Garda and the Defence Forces associations have also been invited to attend. Today I focus on the broader issue of trade union recognition for both of these groups. The Taoiseach previously committed to introducing legislative change to give the Garda associations the right of access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. Unfortunately, although the commitment was given last November, we still have not even seen the heads of the Bill that would bring this about. To date, the Taoiseach has explicitly ruled out making any similar commitment on the Defence Forces, although he could make that as Minister for Defence.

Since the formation of this Government a year ago, the Taoiseach is one of the Ministers who has failed to enact any legislation relating to his brief. He may not have time to see through a Bill now, given the changing political circumstances, but even signalling his support for such a change would be really important. There are approximately 13,000 members of An Garda Síochána and 10,000 active personnel in our Defence Forces. These people carry out some of the most dangerous public sector roles in this country but they have no entitlement to access even the basic industrial relations machinery of the State. We all know issues must be carefully dealt with and agreements must be made relating to the right to strike or take industrial action that would put public safety at risk. These matters are well versed and rehearsed elsewhere. Allowing gardaí and those in the Defence Forces to affiliate to ICTU would be a welcome step, as would giving them full access to the Workplace Relations Commission. Making them full partners rather than merely attendees at public sector pay talks would be even more important.

At a time when morale within An Garda Síochána is terribly damaged, this would be a good time for the Taoiseach to act. Will he bring forward legislation recognising the trade union representatives of the Garda and Defence Forces?

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