Strike calls amid claims gardaí are living in ‘poverty’

The Dáil has been urged to support calls for gardaí to be allowed to strike for better pay, after claims some officers are living in “poverty” and need social welfare supports just to survive.

TDs from across the political spectrum revealed the concerns during a debate on a new bill which seeks to allow Defence Force personnel to take industrial action in certain circumstances.

The potential legislation was put forward by Labour backbencher and Clare TD Michael McNamara in a bid to draw attention to a continuing row between Government and the EU over whether people working as gardaí or soldiers can strike.

While it has been argued that preventing them from doing so is a breach of their constitutional rights, the Department of Justice has consistently warned that Garda strike action could pose severe “security concerns”.

Speaking during the Dáil debate yesterday, Deputy Mick Wallace insisted officers “should be able to strike” as they do not feel represented by existing unions.

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The Wexford TD said he did not know how the State can expect officers to “survive” on as little as €23,000 a year.

He said the reality was Garda pay and conditions had been repeatedly downgraded without genuine debate.

Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh added to the calls for action. He warned union figures showed 1,300 of PDFORRA’s 6,500 members qualify for the family income supplement with “many living in poverty”.

However, while raising similar concerns, Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary said his party “cannot support” the bill as Ireland did not “have the luxury of being able to allow it [the Garda force] to stand itself down”.

Mr McNamara, however, said he anticipates if given the right to strike gardaí would use it in the same responsible way as nurses.

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