POLICING on general election polling day will be performed as normal despite calls for a withdrawal of labour, the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, has said.
He was replying to a call from the Garda Representative Association (GRA) general secretary, Mr P.J. Stone, who asked gardai to apply en masse for leave on polling day as a protest over pay.
The GRA is seeking a commission on pay, claiming that gardai have been discriminated against by being excluded from public sector pay negotiations.
At its annual conference in Ennis this week, GRA delegates held a silent protest in the presence of the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen. The delegates held up red voting cards during her speech which they then refused to applaud.
As well as calling for a withdrawal of labour on polling day, the GRA is proposing a second protest march in Dublin, possibly before the election.
The Commissioner, who does not normally intervene in Garda staff association affairs, yesterday took Mr Stone to task, saying his call for gardai to take leave on polling day was a cause of concern.
Mr Byrne said he wished to assure the public "that the policing of the general election will be performed as it has for every election in the past. Views expressed to the contrary do not reflect the true position of the quality and commitment of the men and women of An Garda Siochana."
Mr Byrne added that in its 75 years of service to the State, the force "has always placed its duty to the country and the government as its number one priority."
There was no comment on the Commissioner's response.
The Commissioner can, if he wishes, cancel all leave on polling day and any garda who refused to obey could be dismissed.