Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

My question is about the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill. We were told the aim of this Bill is to amend the 1990 Act to give the Garda representative associations access to the State's industrial relations institutions.

Yesterday, however, we read about a working group report produced in advance of the legislation, which advises against trade union status. Interestingly, the report indicated that it recommended against such status to assist in keeping the Garda as a force that can be used against protests and strikes. The report states that trade union status would "generate conflicts with the ability of gardaí to carry out policing duties, particularly in relation to the policing of public protests or trade disputes by unions". We are informed that a memorandum was brought to Cabinet yesterday regarding this report. Does the Government intend to propose legislation that would deny trade union status to the Garda representative associations and, if so, when will it come before the House?

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