Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions he has had with the Garda representative bodies since 22 February 2013 in view of the withdrawal of cooperation of voluntary duties; the number of meetings; the issues discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11770/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have not met with any of the Garda representative bodies since 22 February 2013. The Garda Commissioner, whose function it is, under the Garda Síochána Act of 2005, to direct and control the Garda Síochána, has kept me fully briefed on developments as they arise in this particular matter. In fact, the Commissioner has recently met with the executive committees of all four of the Garda representative associations to discuss with them their concerns arising from the recent discussions on an extension of the Croke Park agreement.

While the withdrawal of voluntary service from non-public duty events is a regrettable and unfortunate development, I am informed by the Commissioner that an effective policing service continues to be provided right across our communities. Indeed, the recent successes of Operation Fiacla highlight the consequences of targeted, intelligence-led policing which has focused on the criminal activities of a minority in our society. I am confident that members of the force will continue, as they have for more than 90 years, to provide a professional policing service right across the country.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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It is well recognised both in this country and the world over that one should have a healthy tension between the Minister of the day and some of the agencies under his or her remit. Unfortunately, what we have at the moment is an unhealthy tension. All of the issues are in the public domain and have been well aired. We need political leadership to clear the air and get us back to a healthy situation in terms of the tension that should exist between the representative associations and the Minister.

Before the Croke Park II agreement was even published, the Minister and his colleagues were spinning the story that it was fair and proportionate and that the higher paid were taking the pay cuts. However, that is not the case. It was insulting not alone to public servants, but to the country as a whole to say that what was contained in the agreement was fair and proportionate before the detailed document was published.

I speak in the interests of restoring morale and goodwill. As the Minister and Members are aware, we rely on the goodwill of members of An Garda Síochána every single day of the week. They bring a level of dedication to their job that goes far above the call of public service and public duty. They are effectively on duty on a 24-7 basis. Any garda who is worth his or her salt, which is the case with the vast majority of them, give such dedication to the job. The Minister said he was in touch with the representative associations on 22 February.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I did not say that.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Is that what the Minister said?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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No, I said I have not met any of them since 22 February.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is a time constraint.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister initiate contact with the representative associations in order to clear the air? Morale and goodwill are intangible. One cannot quantify them financially or numerically. It is important to the policing function that is provided in this country. I say that constructively.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am conscious that there has always been some degree of tension between whoever is Minister for justice of the day and the Garda representative bodies. Personally, I do not take that aspect of matters seriously. What I do take seriously is that the gardaí do their work well, which is the case, and that I do what I can to be supportive of them in the work they do. That is why I was so disappointed that the two Garda organisations withdrew from the talks process, failed to engage constructively, failed to set out through the aegis of the Labour Relations Commission and its good offices issues of genuine concern to members of the force and failed to do what was necessary to moderate the outcome of negotiations so as to shape them in a manner that may have addressed issues that they believe should have been addressed.

I was not the person during the course of the talks who said anything untoward or to cause upset or distress. I constantly urged both bodies to engage in the talks. I did not respond to some personal abuse and criticism that was voiced at me by members of both associations during the weeks leading to the outcome of the talks. The Deputy can check the record. All he will discover is that I engaged in a number of broadcasts and made a number of statements in the print media urging that the representative associations engage, participate and address the concerns of their members. It is a bitter disappointment to me that they chose not to do so. It is disingenuous that both bodies are now making a presentation to their members to mislead them into believing that they could not have participated because that is far from the truth.

I repeat again what I said earlier, which is that I am always available to meet with the representative bodies to discuss issues of concern to them, but what I cannot do in any such discussions is re-open in any shape or form the outcome of the negotiations that were completed in Lansdowne House in which a number of trade unions and representative bodies fully participated and which have produced an outcome that must now be voted upon by the members of various unions and by those whom the bodies represent. As to whether I will meet with bodies, of course I will. I met with the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, in the late autumn. I do not have the date on my file. Had the Garda Representative Association, GRA, been willing to meet with me I would have met it in the autumn period as well.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am afraid the time has expired.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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That is all I can do. My door is always open to meet and discuss issues but in the context of those coming through the door I cannot renegotiate the outcome of the talks.