The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, will today meet the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, as support for disruptive action in support of pay demands appeared to be spreading throughout the force There is now a looming threat of mass absenteeism by gardai on Friday after both Mr O'Donoghue and the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, declared yesterday that, in the interests of public sector pay policy, the Government could not concede anything like what Garda representatives are seeking.
"I do not intend to engage in a policy of appeasement which is going to set off a raft of public sector pay claims and send us back to the situation that existed in this country in the mid-80s when we were effectively financially bankrupt. That is not what I am prepared to do and that is not what this Government is going to do either," Mr McCreevy said.
According to a brief Garda Representative Association survey yesterday there are indications that the "calling in sick" protest - the first serious attempt at industrial action in the history of the force - is receiving support in most areas.
A large number of officers of garda rank is expected to call in sick for the day as the force is precluded by law from striking. Many officers are reported to have applied for a day's annual leave, but granting these applications is normally at the discretion of more senior officers.
The withdrawal of policing could have most serious consequences for the movement of cash on Friday. With unknown levels of garda protection available financial institutions will have to review security arrangements. i and soldiers and it remains unclear whether or not there will be disruption to the movement of cash.
According to Garda sources, it is possible that policing, including controlling traffic on the first day of the May bank holiday, will be left largely in the hands of the remaining 2,500 officers from the rank of sergeant upwards.
Asked to state how he intends to deal with the prospect of thousands of gardai ringing in sick and "leaving the public unprotected", Mr O'Donoghue refused to indicate what "logistics and strategies" he had in mind on the grounds that it would be "counterproductive". He appealed to the Garda Representative Association to return to the negotiating table.
Opposition parties clamoured for action, warning that society would be left bereft of protection. Fine Gael claimed the Minister, while ail justice spokesman, in opposition, had indicated to the GRA its pay claims would be met as soon as he was returned to Government - an allegation he strongly denied.
No satisfaction of the garda pay demand - which seeks the re-opening of the PCW pay round and pay awards as high or higher than those given to nurses and teachers - appeared to be on the horizon.
The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy told the Dail yesterday that to re-open the PCW for the gardai "could have enormous consequences nor only for public expenditure but also for the pay climate generally in the economy. "That is a road we cannot travel and its is unrealistic of any group to expect us to do so."
Mr McCreevy said the Government was extremely disappointed with the position adopted by the garda staff association, the Garda Representative Association (GRA).
The GRA's acting general secretary, Mr P.J. Stone said yesterday that Friday's protest was going ahead and that Mr McCreevy's sentiments were identical to remarks made to the GRA by official negotiators. He said: "The Garda will show their muscle on Friday and the Government will have to understand that they are not dealing with people that they can push around."
The industrial action on Friday is not being supported by the next largest staff association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), which represents more than 2,000 officers.
However, there is known to be considerable dissent among AGSI members over the fact that its leadership, which initially left pay talks, has re-entered the negotiations with the Government side. AGSI is re-convening its annual delegate conference tomorrow.