Is anyone in the Garda Representative Association (GRA) able to look beyond what they perceive to be their own self-interest? Because if so, they should make their voices heard before the GRA and its sister representative body, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), do irreparable damage to the reputation of An Garda Síochána.
Emboldened by their success in forcing the capitulation of the Government in the face of a threat of an all-out strike over pay, the garda representative bodies trained their sights late last week on the head of the Public Service Pay Commission Kevin Duffy for saying what many others were thinking: that that strike threat was tantamount to a mutiny. His subsequent decision to retract what he described as an "inappropriate expression" was welcomed by the AGSI. But the GRA reserved its position as to whether it had full confidence in his ability to carry out his role with the pay commission. The latter is due to make recommendations to Government next year on pay for 300,000 staff across the public service.
We are in dangerous territory. The garda staff bodies are entitled to advance the best interests of their members. But they must have regard to the impact of their actions on the public standing of An Garda Síochána. Having exploited the weakness of the Government and effectively scuppered the Lansdowne Road pay deal, they now feel free to flex the same muscle to attack a conciliator who commands support across the trade union movement and within government. Mr Duffy’s ‘sin’ was to speak his mind in an environment where impartiality is equated with silence.
Both the GRA and AGSI plotted a careful course to try to circumvent laws preventing the incitement of gardaí to strike. But make no mistake – Mr Duffy was correct in his use of the word mutiny. That fact is a matter of deep concern in itself and it is compounded by the subsequent determination of senior garda representatives to silence him. The garda representative bodies are crossing a line. Is there anyone within who has the insight and courage to shout stop?