Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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452. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for pay restoration for members of An Garda Síochána and if he is in ongoing talks with representatives from An Garda Síochána regarding pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Officials of my Department in association with their colleagues in the Department of Justice and Equality have had discussions with representatives of the Garda Síochána in the last number of weeks aimed at facilitating their engagement with the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA). While progress has been made in these discussions with the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors in terms of addressing issues of mutual concern this has not unfortunately been the case in respect of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) who formally withdrew from these discussions. As of now the GRA remain outside the LRA. The members of the GRA have exercised their democratic mandate and this right to do so is respected. However the decision not to become party to the LRA has consequences for the members of the GRA.

In particular, with effect from 1 July 2016, the members of the GRA are subject to an increment freeze under the relevant Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest legislation. No-one wishes to impose an incremental freeze on members of An Garda Síochána or indeed on any public servant but it is the law. We must also be fair to the vast bulk of public servants who have accepted the LRA and are co-operating with its terms.

This group includes the Associations representing Superintendents and Chief Superintendents in An the Garda Síochána. The other Garda representative body, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have decided to re-ballot their members with a recommendation to accept the LRA. The AGSI members will not be subject to any increment freeze while that ballot is in progress.

In the context of discussions with AGSI aimed at addressing their concerns it is important to note that it was possible to find a basis to advance the relevant issues pertinent to the parties concerned. A similar prospect should be realisable with the GRA but this will require them to engage in discussions on matters of mutual concern with the official side through the normal channels.