Report on Garda rights criticised by employment law expert

An employment law expert has criticised the findings of the Government body which recommended against granting Garda associations the right to take industrial action or to be considered as trade unions.

The report of the Garda Industrial Relations Working Group, which did recommend that Garda associations be allowed engage in future pay talks and be given access to industrial relations mechanisms, was accepted by the Cabinet last Tuesday.

The group was comprised of senior civil servants and Garda management, but did not include Garda associations, legal experts or the Policing Authority.