Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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308. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when An Garda Síochána will be allowed to access the offices of the WRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43252/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, last year the Government accepted the recommendations of the Working Group on Industrial Relations in An Garda Síochána which included the introduction of legislation to allow Garda members have access to the industrial relations machinery of the State.

The second phase of the Working Group is currently underway and the members of the Group are focussed on the introduction of the legislative changes necessary to allow Garda members and the Garda associations have access to the WRC and the Labour Court.  All the Garda representative bodies - the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents - are fully engaged in this phase of the working group.

The primary legislation supporting access for the Garda members to the WRC is currently being brought forward by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, by way of amendment to the Industrial Relations Act 1990.  The second stage of the legislative process was completed on Thursday the 18 October 2018, when the Oireachtas passed the Bill through to Committee Stage.  All the parties involved are anxious to see this legislation passed with as little delay as possible. 

To enable the operation of the legislation, and support access to the WRC and Labour Court, it is important now for the necessary internal dispute resolution mechanisms to be put in place in An Garda Síochána.  The WRC, which has a long and honourable track record of service provision in the area of industrial relations, has engaged in a comprehensive consultation process with the Garda associations and Garda management.  Significant progress has been made towards identifying and implementing an effective internal dispute resolution mechanism for An Garda Síochána.

Before the end of the year I expect to see significant further progress towards providing Garda members with processes for resolving individual and collective issues. I am confident that these will match what is available to all other workers in the State, while at the same time reflecting the particular status and requirements of An Garda Síochána as an organisation.