GRA push for garda pay to be restored

The largest garda representative organisation is facing a vital ballot on rosters, and the election of new leaders, which will determine if it is to become more militant.

A meeting in Cork recently, which 300 Garda Representative Association (GRA) members attended, pushed for a militant stance on recouping a 22% pay cut, and suggested the possibility of industrial action.

PJ Stone, who was the GRA’s general secretary for many years, has just retired, and the deputy general secretary, John Healy, is also due to step down within few weeks.

A number of names are in the frame as replacements to head the 10,500-member organisation. Garda Damian McCarthy, a brother of former Cork South West TD Michael McCarthy, is being mentioned as a possible new general secretary.

Garda McCarthy, who is from Dunmanway, Co Cork, but stationed in Dublin, confirmed yesterday that he was interested.

He is vastly experienced in the organisation and served a two-year term as president.

Garda John Parker, also a former president, who is based in Mallow, Co Cork, is also a likely successor to PJ Stone.

However, he confirmed he would not be seeking election as general secretary.

He plans to concentrate on securing better rights for members, under a new working time agreement.

This involves a ballot on a controversial new roster, which many at the recent meeting in Cork suggested should be shelved, or at least put on hold, until the Government starts to pay back the cuts endured since 2007.

GRA grassroots also want the Government to row back on pay cuts of 10% to new entrants, and to provide them with an annual rent allowance, worth €4,000, which benefits other members.

A ballot on the new roster is expected to be held on either April 21 or 22, a few days prior to the GRA’s annual conference in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Current president, Dermot O’Brien, based in Galway, is also a possible contender for one of the two top jobs. He is urging members to adopt the new roster for a 12-month period, at which time the GRA would hold another ballot on whether to continue with it.

Garda O’Brien said the revised roster addressed most of the issues identified by the membership. He said the working time agreement secured existing entitlements, and provided for further protections for his membership.

The GRA’s leadership was criticised at the Cork meeting for not doing enough to claw back lost wages. “The review of pay and conditions, under the Haddington Road Review, is currently up and running,” said Garda O’Brien. “This process is looking at all aspects of pay and conditions of An Garda Síochána, currently, and into the future.”

A GRA spokeswoman said an interview board would be set up by its 30-plus central executive committee members to decide on successors to the general secretary and deputy general secretary. The vacancies will be advertised before the GRA’s annual conference on April 26/27.