Dáil briefly suspended in row over pay restoration

The Dáil was briefly suspended in a row over pay restoration and the imposition of penalties under the emergency financial legislation.

Opposition TDs refused to be seated and kept talking, despite being ruled out of order, about the Government's intentions on the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (Fempi) as members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) protested outside Leinster House.

Independent TD Michael Lowry had earlier raised the issue of Garda pay and conditions as well as Garda recruitment.

He asked the Government to consider allowing retired gardaí access to their gratuities as an incentive to encourage them to stay on.

He also described the pay for new gardaí as “derisory”. Mr Lowry, in whose Tipperary constituency the Garda Síochána College at Templemore is based, called for a review of pay. “How can we we expect young and enthusiastic recruits to survive on €23,000 a year.”

He said new Templemore college graduates could be posted anywhere in Ireland from Cork to Donegal without any rental assistance or support.

“This level of salary is derisory. It is unfair, unjust and should be remedied by this Government.”

Minister for Education Richard Bruton who was taking leaders' questions, agreed that the issue of entry pay was a real issue right across the public service. He said all public service new entrants took a reduction in pay.

He said the Minister for Justice had had discussions with the GRA and addressed issues including the rental allowance.

Mr Bruton said the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform had committed to establish a public pay commission and “one of the priorities will be to examine the entrants’ pay and that’s a vehicle within which the issue can be addressed”.

Protest

The GRA protested outside Leinster House to call on the Government not to freeze from July 1st the payment of increments until a full review of Garda pay and conditions was completed.

The GRA will not consider the Lansdowne Road Agreement until the completion of the review of the Haddington Road Agreement. The review was due to be completed by 2014.

Mr Lowry said many gardaí were under financial pressure and struggling to survive. “This worry is a huge distraction and impacts on their productivity. He said “if you’re not happy in your job it has consequences for your energy, your enthusiasm and your output. Many members of the force are demoralised and as a result are less than effective.”

Mr Bruton however gave no indication that the freezing of increments would be stalled. He reminded Mr Lowry that within the Lansdowne Road Agreement there was scope for these issues to be addressed.

He pointed out that €884 million in public sector pay would be paid out through the working out of the Fempi legislation.

“A number of unions including the AGSI have reached agreement within the framework of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and I hope GRA and ASTI can do the same,” the Mr Bruton said.

People Before Profit TD Mick Barry said they should not have a token debate on the Fempi legislation. He said the Government had the power to put through the legislation without a vote in the House and that was very wrong.

Independent TD Séamus Healy warned against the continued implementation of the two-tier pay structure.