Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the implications for her Department’s Estimates in 2017 of the Labour Court recommendations in the Garda dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35147/16]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality outline for the House the financial consequences for her Department as a result of accepting the Labour Court recommendation in respect of the threatened action by the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI? It is important we are informed of the consequences for the expenditure within her Department.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, following intensive negotiations between the Government, the GRA and the AGSI, facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court issued a recommendation. In the case of individual members, the recommendation for the GRA and AGSI would provide extra remuneration of approximately €4,000 on average to a member of the service over the next 12 months through an increase in the value of the rent allowance by €500, bringing it to €4,655 per annum with effect from 1 January 2017, the integration of the rent allowance in the new amount of €4,655 into salary, with consequential increases in unsocial hours and overtime payments also with effect from 1 January 2017, and the introduction of a €15 premium payment per annual leave day to compensate for the uncertainty attaching to the taking of leave by gardaí and other recommendations. The Government has made it clear that it is committed to introducing legislative change to give the Garda associations the right of access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. On foot of the Labour Court recommendation, the GRA and AGSI agreed to defer the intended industrial action.

The Government fully respects the decision of the Labour Court as the independent industrial relations body of last resort in the State and agreed last week to accept its recommendation. The outcome of the process is now being examined in detail by all sides and it is hoped that it will form the basis for a final resolution of this dispute following the balloting of members of AGSI and the GRA in due course. Once the outcome of the ballots is known and if the proposals are accepted, the additional budgetary cost will be the subject of discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In that regard, officials of both Departments have had an initial discussion on the issues. The Deputy will agree that what is most important at this juncture is that members of the AGSI and the GRA are afforded the time and space to give the Labour Court's recommendation the detailed consideration that it deserves.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Like most people I welcome the recommendation of the Labour Court which averted the threatened strike action of the GRA and AGSI two weeks ago. That Labour Court recommendation, as we know, has been accepted by the Government and we agree it should have been accepted by the Government. It is now being voted upon by the representatives organisations and I agree with the Minister that they should be given time to deliver their verdicts on the proposed deal.

However, we should be aware that at the previous election the people voted in favour of improving services. That was the one message we got from the previous general election. This message was translated into a physical format in the agreement reached between my party and that of the Tánaiste in our confidence and supply agreement. It was recognised that people in the country wanted services improved, as opposed to taxes being cut.

I know many Members of the House share my concern about whether the Labour Court recommendation will result in a reduction in the services provided by the Department of Justice and Equality. When my colleague, Deputy Calleary, asked the Minister a question about the cost of the Labour Court recommendation a few days ago, she said that "depending on a number of variables, the estimated gross annual cost of implementing the Labour Court Recommendation could exceed €50m; however, this gross cost will be offset by statutory deductions for tax, PRSI, etc., which will reduce the net Exchequer cost." I want the Minister to give the House an assurance that the Labour Court recommendation will not have an impact on the services provided by the Department of Justice and Equality.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It would be misleading to talk about cutting back on investment in resources. We have to await the outcome of the ballots. When that is known, if the proposals are accepted the cost of the proposed settlement will be addressed in discussions between the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Deputy will agree that as Minister for Justice and Equality in this and the last Government, I have demonstrated my commitment and that of both Governments to investing in An Garda Síochána and to ensuring that we develop the very best policing service we can for the people of Ireland. As the Deputy knows, that has included reopening the Garda College and making a substantial investment in Garda vehicles. As he rightly mentioned, the programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure we have a police force of 15,000. A number of recruits will be passing out in Templemore on Thursday of this week. An advertisement was placed recently to begin the process of recruiting more gardaí next year. It is intended to have 800 gardaí recruited during the course of next year.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with and support the plan to invest further in An Garda Síochána. That will have the support of the whole House. My concern, which is shared by many Deputies, is that we will see a reduction in services as a result of the Labour Court recommendation. The Minister has already indicated that this will cost approximately €50 million. Regardless of whether the proposal is going to be accepted, we need to know where the money will come from. I presume the Department is making plans for where it will come from. As a result of the Minister's response, I do not know where the €50 million is going to come from. Will it be taken from other sections within the Department? Will the Minister ask the Cabinet for further funding for the Department in response to the Labour Court recommendation? I urge her to ensure the policing services that the people of this country are anxious to see improved are not threatened as a result of the requirement to increase Garda wage payments.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I have said, it is important to allow the process that has been put in place to run its course. I believe that is the priority right now. I want to ensure every member of the Garda is aware of the details of the recommendations that have been made by the Labour Court. The associations will make sure of this. It is very important that those details are circulated so that members of An Garda Síochána have an opportunity to look at the recommendations, assess the impact they will have on each of them and consider very carefully their response. That is really where we have to keep the main focus. The Department of Justice and Equality, which has a budget of over €2 billion, will examine the outcome of that ballot. If it is accepted, I will discuss its budgetary implications with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The question of how public pay will be determined next year is a whole-of-government issue.