Reform first - Gardaí to demand pay rises

No-one can be surprised that gardaí have added their tuppence worth to the growing demands for pay increases. 

Gardaí want a restoration of the 22% lost since 2008. They also want, and this seems entirely justifiable, an end to the two-tier pay scales and the disadvantage this imposes on recruits — just as it does on young teachers and nurses.

In a society with impressive growth, these demands are understandable, but the integrity of growth touching 7% must be suspect, especially as there are predicated on transnational companies using Ireland as a tax base.

It is difficult though to refute these claims, and many others as so many executives have concluded that they are entitled to double-digit pay rises. As has become the norm, boardroom pay rises outstrip workers’ by many multiples.

A recent report was very critical of the gardaí and how the force operates. Efforts to confront those findings with new work rotas have been rejected. It would be wrong to even consider pay rises unless efficiencies are introduced. We simply can’t afford to sustain a dysfunctional system any longer.