Gardaí accept €50m pay deal

By Juno McEnroe, Political Correspondent

Three quarters of rank-and-file gardaí with the GRA who returned ballots have voted to accept a Labour Court €50m pay deal, in a move which is certain to speed up talks with other unions.

The GRA acceptance of the court proposals, which include more rent allowance and a special pre-shift allowance, will now apply pressure on the government to meet other union demands.

In a brief statement, the Garda Representative Association said: "Members of the Garda Representative Association [GRA] voted to accept the terms offered by the Labour Court Recommendation of 3 November 2016; the ballot result was announced on 5 December 2016.

"The vote was recorded 75.2% ‘Yes’ against 24.8% ‘No’. Turnout was 69% of members of Garda rank entitled to register their preference in this ballot.

"The Central Executive Committee will meet tomorrow 6 December 2016 at 11 a.m. to discuss the implications of this outcome."

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has already said the Government is prepared to bring forward talks on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the current pay deal with public sector workers.