Rank-and-file gardaí withdraw from modernisation process

Rank-and-file gardaí are to withdraw from co-operating with the force’s new modernisation and renewable programme in a pay-related row with the Government.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it had "reluctantly" taken the decision to withdraw from the implementation of the programme, which is aimed at addressing many of the shortcomings in policing highlighted in recent critical reports.

The move by the GRA, which represents 10,500 rank-and-file gardaí in a force of just under 13,000, follows a similar announcement by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) last month.

Both are protesting at what they see as the Government unfairly denying their members pay increments until they sign up to the new Haddington Road agreement.

However, the associations argue that a long-promised review of Garda pay and conditions under the Haddington Road agreement, which expired last week, has not been completed.

And both the GRA and AGSI believe because the review has not been completed under the first agreement, they should not sign up to the new Landsdowne Road agreement and should not be penalised for refusing to sign it.

Financial emergency legislation, known as Fempi, introduced last year allows the Government to impose sanctions on members of organisations deemed to have repudiated a collective agreement.

GRA president Ciaran O’Neill said that because gardaí are entitled to long-service increments up to their 17th year at garda rank, an estimated 6,500 GRA members were affected by the Government’s freezing of pay increments.

He believed the Government had “unfairly punished” gardaí and the GRA national executive’s decision that members would withdraw their co-operation with the modernisation programme was in direct response to it.

Mr O’Neill said the withdrawal of co-operation meant rank-and-file gardaí would not undergo any new training under the modernisation programme and would not use any new equipment of technology, on which €200 million is being spent.

“Our members have yet another pay freeze imposed upon them despite this government’s failure to honour its commitments,” he said.

“Members of Garda rank have not yet received their full entitlements under the terms of the Haddington Road agreement.

"Members of An Garda Síochána are the only group of workers that has not been afforded the full conditions of this agreement; yet the Government are only intent on imposing an further agreement on our membership before Haddington Road has expired.

“We had repeatedly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to refrain from imposing the legislation while the HRA [Haddington Road Agreement] review was progressing. This political decision is an inflammatory escalation ignoring our genuine and legitimate grievances. Our executive has no option but to respond appropriately.”

The GRA said it was hopeful of meeting very soon with John Horgan, former chair of the Labour Court, who has taken over the review of Garda pay and remuneration in the past week.