Pay row threatens gardaí’s Reserve agreement

THE main garda representative body has threatened to reconsider its “forced acceptance” of the Garda Reserve if pay talks don’t deliver substantial increases for its members.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said 2006 had not been a “pleasant year” for its 6,000-plus members.

The association said the finding of the Morris Tribunal that indiscipline was rife in the force had lowered morale among gardaí.

“The force has undergone many changes in the past year; not all for the better,” said GRA general secretary PJ Stone.

In the editorial in the current issue of the Garda Review, the journal of the GRA, Mr Stone said: “We have seen the introduction of new discipline regulations that could remove our constitutional rights and we have seen a Garda Reserve foisted upon us despite clear and reasoned opposition from members at the coal face of policing and our supporters.”

He said the GRA had balloted its members and had accepted the Reserve as part of a modernisation agenda.

“Garda management must now set out in a clear and unequivocal way what members are expected to do in the day-to-day workings with the Reserve.”

And he warned: “We must now wait to see whether the benchmarking body delivers on pay. If they fail to compensate members then we will look at the issue afresh.”