The pay deal agreed between the Government and unions last night is expected to be to the fore as Garda sargeants and inspectors continue their annual conference in Galway today.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), which has demanded a reversal of pay cuts, had wanted to be included in the pay talks, from which they are excluded because they are a representative organisation rather than a trade union.
Members of the Garda are banned by law from striking, meaning low-level protest actions, such as refusing to use their own equipment and work-to-rule measures, are their only options in demonstrating against pay cuts.
AGSI president Dan Hanley last night used his opening address at the conference in Galway to warn his members not to use their personal equipment for work.
A number of delegates have also tabled motions to be debated today and tomorrow asking that AGSI outline to all sergeants and inspectors their work-to-rule options in the event they decide to embark on such an action.
However, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern told the conference has said there is “very little scope for manoeuvre” in relation to Garda demands for a reversal to their pay cuts.
Mr Ahern said the Government was reducing its expenditure by €4 billion this year and €3 billion in 2011. This meant many people would be “hit in the pocket”.
He also said AGSI and other ranks within the Garda needed to “think very carefully” before embarking on any work-to-rule in protest at pay cuts.
The public had always supported the Garda, and nothing should be done by any member of the force that would “diminish that long-held support”.
However, he believed the force was “disciplined”, and that the various Garda representative bodies understood the consequences of any such action.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents rank-and-file members of the force, has begun a protest action by instructing its members not to use their personal equipment, such as laptop computers and phones, for Garda business.
Mr Ahern rejected suggestions by Mr Hanley that higher public servants had received preferential treatment from the Government by having their bonuses factored into their pay cut.
He said those who earned most had lost more money than lower-paid public sector workers. If bonuses had not been factored in the burden on higher public servants would have been “grossly unfair”.
“They would have had the type of cut that Ministers and the Taoiseach have taken; way in excess of anyone else in the public service.”