Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The amendments in this grouping concern section 54, which deals with the appointment of members of Garda staff. Although this matter was previously discussed at length in the Dáil, by way of background I will briefly note that the Commission on the Future of Policing recommended that Garda staff would be directly recruited into An Garda Síochána and that An Garda Síochána should be seen and treated as a single organisation with a single workforce who share a common mission. Section 54(1) allows the Commissioner to recruit Garda staff directly into the organisation. In addition, section 54(5) allows for the designation of existing civilian staff as members of Garda staff but only on foot of an appropriate industrial relations process. The commencement of this legislation will have no automatic effect on existing civilian staff. It is a matter that was also the subject of further debate in the Seanad as well as here. I engaged directly with many Garda civilian staff and their representatives. I am keenly aware of, and sensitive to, the concerns that have been raised by existing staff and their union representatives. To provide staff with further reassurance, I have brought forward Seanad amendments to section 54 guaranteeing, under subsection (5), that would have the effect of designating existing Garda staff as staff, may not be made until at least 24 months after the commencement of that section. This would provide a suitable time period for staff engagement, which is under way and will allow for negotiations as a priority on the terms and conditions that will apply to new civilian staff recruited after the commencement of the the Bill, and who will also automatically be designated as Garda staff. As a final note, by way of update, I have taken further action to ensure there has been, and continues to be engagement between myself, Department officials, Garda management and the relevant trade unions in this area. Officials from my Department, following consultation with An Garda Síochána and the relevant unions, have agreed upon an independent mediation process under an independent facilitator for the official negotiations in this matter. Negotiations will commence once that appointment has been formally made, and I will continue to engage with colleagues and others on this matter directly where required as the negotiations progress.

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