THERE was no Government response last night to a plan for the first public demonstration by police officers in the State's history.
The protest, planned for April 16th with a route along O'Connell Street to the gates of Dail Eireann, is in support of a commission on pay levels in the Garda.
The proposed demonstration was announced yesterday at a mass meeting in the National Stadium, Dublin, organised by three Garda staff associations representing all but the most senior 56 members of the 10,800 strong force.
The overwhelming support for the demonstration reflects deep seated anger within the force about pay levels which have been seen to fall behind those of other public sectors which were traditionally less well paid than gardai.
The acting general secretary of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), Mr P.J. Stone, said gardai were now second class citizens. They had been ignored and humiliated and treated in an abominable fashion by the Government.
The proposal for a demonstration also bridged the internal dispute which has split the main Garda staff association, the GRA. Only one member of the dissident Garda Federation spoke at yesterday's rally, and that was to support the proposal for a public demonstration.
Other speakers singled out the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, for particular criticism. A comment by Mr Quinn about "greedy" public sector employees, which was taken as being directed at gardai, was described as "scandalous" by Mr George Maybury, general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
Mr Maybury said gardai were now seeking a commission with agreed terms of reference and thereafter a "permanent structure to deal with Garda pay on an annual basis". He said such a structure had been put in place in the United Kingdom to reflect the unique nature of police work.
Gardai had been totally excluded from the national pay talks and offered a fruit accompli in place of proper pay negotiations.
He said: "My association is prepared to participate on April 16th. I hope the Government comes to its senses before then and we do not have to participate, but we are prepared to do so. The Government realises that a properly paid police force is vital in the interests of democracy.
"It is not becoming of a government to take advantage of the Garda's commitment to the State. They must recognise our legitimate case for a bargaining situation. We are reasonable people, but reasonableness runs out at some stage," he said.
Mr Brendan Quinn, president of the Association of Garda Superintendents, said he was honoured to be associated with the campaign for a pay commission and negotiating structures for gardai. Gardai had to pursue the case for increased pay themselves to stop "being cast aside with blatant indifference."
"As far as gardai are concerned, Isolationship 2000 would be a more appropriate title for that," he said.
Mr John Healy, president of the GRA, announcing the public demonstration, said yesterday's rally represented the ending of "phase one" of the campaign for the establishment of a commission on pay.
"The campaign goes on for as long as it needs. If by next month we have no commission on pay you will be asked to meet at Parnell Square on April 16th for a more public demonstration. We need your support and solidarity. We need all members of all ranks to stand up, for a commission on Garda pay.
Calls for Garda unity by Mr Healy and other speakers on the pay demand were met with strong applause. Some members of the dissident association, the Garda Federation, had attended the meeting with the apparent intention of challenging the platform speakers. However, the overwhelming support in the stadium for the public protest silenced all opposition.