THE Minister for Justice faced a silent protest by gardai holding up red voting cards in response to her annual address to the Garda Representative Association (GRA) conference in Ennis yesterday.
More than 120 gardai sat silently throughout Mrs Owen's speech holding the red "no" voting cards for 17 minutes in response to the Government's refusal to grant the association's demand for a commission on pay.
The gardai also refused the usual courtesy of applauding the Minister's speech.
After leaving the conference hall, Mrs Owen acknowledged that her reception was "not exactly what you would call cordial", but said the Government's position remained that there was "not sufficient reason" to grant the demand for a commission on pay for gardai despite the special preference given to nurses' pay.
In her speech, the Minister announced the recruitment of 1,000 gardai between next year and 2000 to offset some of the decline in the force's strength due to retirements.
Commenting on the GRA demand for a pay commission, the Minister said that under the Government's national pay programme constraints had to be imposed on public pay. "The gardai are in no way greater affected than all other public service workers.
Earlier, the conference had discussed a walk-out on the Minister but decided against this out of "courtesy" to Mrs Owen, who is officially a guest at the annual conference. Instead, members were allowed to make a token, "dignified" protest in response to the Minister's position that gardai would not receive a pay commission, but could be considered for wage restructuring in return for changes in working arrangements.
The conference heard calls for industrial action in support of a commission on pay for the force. Speakers expressed considerable anger at pay levels and several proposed forms of industrial action.
Although gardai are forbidden to strike under law, speakers pointed out that there were several forms of industrial action, from protests to works-to-rule, which could he legally pursued.
A Cork delegate, Mr Henry Morrison, pointed out that one form of industrial action which would attract attention would be a work-to-rule by the garda drivers of State cars.
The acting general secretary, Mr P.J. Stone, produced a letter from the Taoiseach's office informing the GRA that the Government was "not in favour" of its demand for a commission on pay for the force. Mr Stone's gesture of dropping the letter from the side of the speakers' podium was met with applause.
The GRA vice-president, Mr Michael Kerby, said the Government response to the GRA demand for a pay commission was disdainful and contemptible. He said the Government would face a "summer of discontent".
Mr John Touhy, from south central Dublin, said gardai were expected to work with and help the marginalised sections of the community but were themselves being marginalised over pay.