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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Garda pay and morale

Summary

The Leader defended careful language on industrial disputes, acknowledged Garda frustration and morale problems, and said he would ask the Minister to come to the House.

One cannot engage in megaphone diplomacy on issues of such sensitivity to do with An Garda Síochána, the ASTI, the GRA, the AGSI, doctors or whoever else. One cannot do so on the airwaves or television. The important point I wish to make is that I fully understand the frustration of members of An Garda Síochána. If Senators live and operate in the real world, they will hear their stories. They date back decades. One can judge the morale of gardaí from the internal workings of An Garda Síochána and the pay issues. Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin's party leader, the former Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, was very much involved in the negotiation of the Lansdowne Road agreement. A public sector pay commission is being established. There is one way to resolve the issues involved and that is through the industrial relations mechanisms of the State. The vast majority of unions have signed up to pay restoration. I speak every day to colleagues of mine in schools and members of An Garda Síochána. The Government does not want to be in dispute with unions, in this case public sector unions. The Minister for Justice and Equality has been quite clear - the way to resolve the issues involved is to talk. I appeal, therefore, to all sides - the Government and the unions - to become involved in the process. I look forward to the issues being resolved.

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