THE Government's proposal to legislate for a new Garda staff association appears to be running into difficulties, following the first conference of the breakaway Garda union, the Garda Federation.
A motion by the federation leaders welcoming the draft statement of the legislation failed to win any support at the conference in the Garda Social Club in Harrington Street, Dublin, yesterday. After strong opposition, the conference voted to hold a series of meetings, open to all gardai, to discuss the proposed legislation.
The federation claims to represent 2,500 members who broke away from the GRA, the Garda Representative Association, two years ago. About 1,000 other gardai from four rural divisions also broke away last year.
It had been thought that the Garda Federation would be in favour of legislation to create a new staff association. The GRA has already rejected some of the terms contained in the proposal, but has yet to debate its details.
The federation president, Mr Frank Gunn, conceded at the conference that the proposed legislation had "aggrieved" gardai. He said it was clear legislation was not going to resolve differences among gardai over representation.
The legislation proposals, published on Tuesday by the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, were criticised at the conference.
Speakers were also critical of a motion by the national council of the federation stating "That this national council welcomes the draft statement of proposed legislation provided, when the Bill is published, it remains fully consistent with the Government statement of the 20th February, 1996, and recommends its adoption subject to clarification in relation to a number of important points."
Speaking against the motion, a national council member, Mr Stephen Sheerin, said the federation had been founded because members objected to a pay deal in which "we got nothing".
The proposed legislation suggested that the 2,500 federation members return to the GRA and pay arrears, Mr Sheerin said. "The legislation proposes that we go back into the GRA with our tails between our legs and hand over our money.
He said there were unresolved issues about what would happen to federation members who had been expelled from the GRA after facing various allegations, including acting to undermine it. Garda Sheerin has been summoned to appear before the GRA disciplinary committee to face allegations he undermined the GRA and endangered GRA funds.