Gardaí to use ‘discretion’ on strike day

GARDAÍ are expected not to issue penalty points and fixed charge notices to motorists next Tuesday as part of the public service day of industrial action.

It is illegal for gardaí to strike but in a statement by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) the organisation called upon its members to exercise their discretion in carrying out activities not covered by “summary legislation”.

In a notice sent to all members, the GRA has advised gardaí to take “cognisance of the non-necessity to issuing the fixed penalty notices”.

The GRA has also asked gardaí to not use personal equipment such as laptops and mobile phones for official purposes for 24 hours from 6am on November 24.

Those officers who are not roistered to work have been asked to attend demonstrations in support of striking civil staff but not to carry placards.

Asked about the GRA stance a Garda spokesman said: “An Garda will be providing a normal service on the 24th with full resources.”

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has advised its members to only carry out functions assigned to them under the Garda Code.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) has requested its members to withdraw completely from elective and day services in acute hospitals from 8am to 8pm on Tuesday.

However, care of the elderly and those with intellectual disabilities will be unaffected as will most work in maternity hospitals and in intensive care units.

Prison officers mounting a full stoppage in all of the state’s prisons for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon at times still to be decided as well as withdrawing from unessential services. The deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, Eugene Dennehy, said his members “regret taking this action but it is necessary in order to send a clear message to the Government of how determined they are to oppose any further reductions in pay or services”.

SIPTU ambulance service personnel and hospital support service staff will be providing emergency cover only from 7am until 7pm on Tuesday. In the case of general nurses the union will be taking similar action to the INO and will be on strike from 8am to 8pm. Cover will be provided on the same basis as the INO.

In the areas of intellectual disability and care of the elderly arrangements will be made at local level to determine the level of cover to be provided. Whatever action is decided there will be steps taken to ensure emergency cover is maintained.

SIPTU firefighters will strike from 00.01 on November 24 until 23.59.

Members will not carry out duties carried out by other personnel on strike such as National Ambulance Service staff. Emergency cover will be provided.