Garda access to labour bodies
Deputy Howlin asked when legislation would give the GRA and AGSI access to the Labour Court and WRC, and whether Defence Forces representatives would be included. The Tánaiste said the issue was being examined through the Horgan review and there was no current intention to extend it to the Defence Forces.
A commitment was made last week in regard to the GRA and the AGSI. When will we see legislation to provide both those bodies with access to the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission? Will the legislation extend the same access to trade union representatives in the Defence Forces?
Comment on this
The Labour Court recommendation addressed the issue of access to the Workplace Relations Commission for gardaí and it suggested a timetable in which it would be completed during 2017. I have referred this issue to the Horgan review. I asked Mr. Horgan and the associations to work together to discuss what they would like to see in the legislation and the best way to approach it. I expect to get the report in December but the timetable remains. It will be a helpful contribution to the legislation. There is no intention at present to extend it to the Defence Forces.