Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

Very well. It is regrettable that I cannot share with Senator Walsh but I wish to put my contribution on the record of the House. Like Senators Leyden and Cummins, I attended the meeting of our nominating body this afternoon and my two colleagues have outlined what transpired at it. I will approach it from a particular point of relevance to the Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations. The current discontent within the ranks of the Garda Síochána at all levels and within the Defence Forces is related to the perceived unfairness of the pension levy. However, it also stems from understandable frustration among many fine men and women, good public servants, who wear the uniform with distinction but who are excluded from trade union membership. As members of a representative body rather than a union, members of the AGSI and the GRA, together with the Defence Forces, are banned from striking and all take an oath to serve the country. The exclusion of gardaí and soldiers from trade union membership is based on an historic view of the special position of those entrusted with upholding public order. However, in Ireland, where social partnership has played such a crucial role in shaping public policy, I consider it to be wrong that a group of public servants are excluded from a process which has profound implications for their terms and conditions of employment.

They cannot participate in broader industrial mechanisms and have no recourse to the machinery of the State, including the Labour Relations Commission, the rights commissioner service and the Labour Court. I believe it is time for a rethink and it should not be beyond the imagination of the State to devise a mechanism which would allow gardaí and soldiers the right to collective representation and negotiation and grant access to the industrial relations machinery of the State without compromising national security, law and order or the maintenance of essential services. I apologise for not welcoming the Minister of State, because of the minor kerfuffle at the outset of my contribution, and I do so now. Perhaps the Government might consider a high level working party to bring forward recommendations.

I agree with Members who suggested an amendment to the Constitution to deal with the issue of the remuneration of judges. Consideration should be given to changing the Article which provides protection to the salaries of the Judiciary. I am confident the latter would not be found wanting in this regard. I have spoken to several judges who are willing to play their part at this difficult time of economic crisis.