DATES have been set for talks on the Government Bill aimed at resolving the internal dispute which has split Garda representatives, the Minister for Justice Mrs Owen, has announced.
She was speaking as the GRA announced that it was prepared to accept the "vast majority" of rule changes included in the Bill.
However, the breakaway Garda Federation indicated yesterday that it was not prepared to accept the Government's legislative proposals. It is to hold a mass meeting of its members later this month to discuss its approach to the Garda Siochana Bill.
The Minister has informed the GRA and the other parties to the dispute, the Garda Federation and representatives of four Garda divisions which also broke away from the GRA, that she will meet them on May 21st. The proposed legislation will then be debated in the Dail on June 6th.
Addressing the GRA conference, the Minister rejected a suggestion by the association that she had ignored it.
She said "It is simply unrealistic to say that I should have over looked the representation dispute as to paraphrase your words, an issue of internal concern to the GRA and get on with what you understandably refer to as your legitimate concerns. The Government, the general public and virtually everybody who has commented on the situation wants the dispute to end."
She emphasised that she wanted the conference to have no doubts as to her resolve to end the dispute.
The GRA president, Mr John Healy, warned that the association would "take any steps necessary" to defend its independence and "oppose any unwarranted intrusion in our internal affairs". He said "Almost all the suggestions made by the GRA have been taken into account. It is fair to say that the vast majority of rule changes proposed are acceptable to your [the GRA's] central executive committee.
Earlier yesterday Mr Healy criticised the Minister for failing to meet the association on issues such as representation for student and probationer gardai, bail, drugs, prison policy and the programme for building new Garda stations.
"On each occasion you [Mrs Owen] responded by saying you felt there was no necessity for such a meeting and no onus on you to arrange one. In 1996, this is no way to treat employees.
"You are the first Minister to adopt such a position. This is an attitude that bears more resemblance to the 19th century than the 1990s. This can only lead to a situation of megaphone diplomacy where the only avenue for raising issues is in the public arena."