asked the Minister for Justice if he has any proposals to set up improved negotiation procedures for the Garda Síochána to investigate such areas as work conditions, disciplinary complaints, transfers and promotions.

The Garda Síochána Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme, which was revised extensively in agreement with the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Representative Body for Chief Superintendents in November, 1977, includes improved negotiation procedures to investigate the areas referred to in the Question and other areas as well.

The Louden Ryan Committee of Inquiry recommended that the Garda Consultative Council should be reactivated. As matters which they stated this Council should deal with are ones which may be discussed by the Conciliation Council under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme and as the scheme provides that matters within the scope of the scheme will be dealt with exclusively through the scheme, the recommendation cannot be implemented except by altering the C. & A. Scheme. It is at present being considered by the conciliation council.

In view of the fact that the undertaking to set up these satisfactory negotiation procedures was included on page 37 of the Fianna Fáil Election Manifesto, could the Minister be specific about precisely how far his pledge to introduce such procedures, particularly with regard to work conditions, disciplinary complaints and transfer on promotion has got?

I think that the Deputy has missed the thrust of my answer, which is that the improved procedures which were agreed on between the management—my side, if I may use that phrase—and the representatives of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Association of Chief Superintendents, are working quite satisfactorily.

If that is the case, after three years of gestation of these procedures, how is it that repeated complaints have been made, both by the Garda representative bodies and by individual gardaí about the contents of the question, indicating clearly that there is no agreement, certainly, on their part with the optimistic view of the Minister that matters have advanced to the stage he believes they have.

I have said to the Deputy quite definitely and quite firmly that the garda representative associations and the other associations involved are satisfied that the scheme is operating satisfactorily right now. If there are improvements to be made—and no scheme is beyond improving—then it is open to either side to try to negotiate further improvements.