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Updated 1.33pm
Our members have struggled over the last few years. They’ve suffered pay cuts since 2009 – their debts haven’t reduced.
A GROUP OF rank-and-file gardaí staged a protest outside the gates of the Dáil today, calling on TDs to support their demand to have their pay restored to pre-recession levels.
The action follows the breakdown of talks between the association and government officials in recent days over garda salaries.
The Lansdowne Road Agreement, which was rejected by the GRA membership, is due to come into force tomorrow and Garda Representative Association Vice President Jim Mulligan said his members’ rejection of the deal will result in a pay freeze from tomorrow.
This will impact on anyone with less than 17 years’ service in the force, or 62% of rank-and-file gardaí, as they will not receive the standard salary increments as they progress.
“I mean, somebody could be due an increment of €1,000 or more this year and they won’t get that and it means a lot to people with families and kids going back to school in September,” he said.
Our members have struggled over the last few years. They’ve suffered pay cuts since 2009 now. Their debts haven’t reduced so they’re dependant on these increments to keep things going and it’s a serious situation that’s about to unfold.
Morale
The government has failed to honour its commitment in the previous pay deal, to conduct a review of garda pay. This was supposed to be completed in 2014 and had started, but its chairperson resigned last month and no replacement has been chosen.
Members of the GRA protesting today said they could not accept a new public pay deal until the government keeps up its side of the previous agreement.
Robbie Peelo, who represents gardaí in the Louth division, described morale in the force as “non-existent”.
He spoke in particular about new recruits, as a number of trainee gardaí were moved to Dundalk at short notice to address resourcing issues near the border after the murder of Garda Tony Golden.
“I’ve got lads that were sent up because of tragic circumstances above in the Louth division, sent from all over the country to us, and the government are telling them they’re not entitled to a rent allowance to do so.
“They’re then expected to go out and do armed checkpoints on the border with colleagues supporting them from either the ERU or the Regional support units. And the only reason it’s safe for them to do those checkpoints is because we have armed cover. To do that for €23,000 a year is an absolute disgrace.”
Kicked, punched, spat at
The organisation’s president Ciaran O’Neill also spoke of the plight of the new recruits who he said are being paid just over the minimum wage.
“For this they are being kicked at, spat at, punched, threatened and abused and this is all in the course of a day’s work. Now the government are denying them their increments, meaning they will be stuck on this salary for another two years.
“This is a totally unfair situation and it reflects badly on the government that they are now punishing the new recruits of An Garda Síochána.”
He told reporters that if pay freezes are implemented, further protests and industrial action will follow, and he is ruling nothing out.
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its not as if the journal are the ones who wrote and staged the piece the are just reporting on it
No such thing as a bold child these days.
Probably because we have a richer understanding of the mind, instead of the binary good v. bad.
It’s funny how instances of ADHD rise as you travel from west coast USA to East coast, it’s also funny how this trend corresponds to the ownership of games consoles and various technological gear kids are given these days. I’m not saying ADHD does not exist but it’s used to often as a get out Clause.
totally agree with u Gary there is such a thing as a bold child but its easier to say they have adhd rather than just saying their a brat
I don’t know about owning game consoles- my children have wii and ds consoles but the geography speaks volumes…
My Da had a great cure for ADHD. A toe up the hole. Cured me every time.
aka “mammy didn’t give me enough hugs syndrome”
true sometimes children are just bold and being a brat nothing else
adhd is just an excuse 4 parents not to put maners on their kids 4 being bold… no1 wants to tell their kids of anymore..
Jonathan that’s not true- myself and my husband try and discipline our children appropriately when necessary. When want to ensure that their actions don’t go unchecked. Simple manners like please and thank you- are just the beginning. Don’t tar all parents with the same brush…
Where was ADHD in the 70s and 80s?it seems all too prevalent nowadays. I do believe SOME parents misuse the condition to excuse “bad” behaviour. AND before I get red thumbed- I have 3 children-8,7 and 2. I do know what naughty vs good should be and when I as a parent should step up and take responsibility for my children’s behaviour and not blame a condition.
Should be ashamed of yourselves running this story. Many young kids including my own son have ADHD and I don’t take kindly to having it slagged off as is the case here. I’m all for a laugh and joke but not at some child’s expense. Shame on you. If it was a slur about skin colour, wheelchair bound people, mentally handicapped or blind people would you still run it.
I doubt the play makes fun of ADHD. The original ADHD and Asperger’s kids are in their twenties now. Things are becoming more tolerant, and diagnosed writers/actors are emerging. I wouldn’t worry.
Hi all,
@Jambbie: With respect, I’m not sure what problem you have with this review. The show itself, which is part of this year’s Fringe festival, discusses ADHD and some of the reactions and misunderstandings surrounding the condition. It seems that there are some playful elements to the story but I don’t think that these try to poke fun at children or those with ADHD – far from it. In any case, TheJournal.ie didn’t write or stage the play – this is just a review of it.
More generally, I’d like to point out that ADHD is a recognised behavioural condition that presents very real challenges to those who suffer from it and their families (see: http://www.apa.org/topics/adhd/index.aspx). It really isn’t helpful to suggest that children with ADHD are just “acting up”.
my son was very bold and used to have at least half a dozen very bad tantrums every day,,, it was a nightmare,, doctor said he had adhd,,I didn’t agree,,I didn’t want to label my child just so his mother could get some extra allowance,,I changed his diet and made sure he got out for lots of exercise,, he was just a normal boy, with lots of energy that needed to be burnt off,, and u am aware that there are genuine cases, but kids are you easily labeled adhd,, their kids their supposed to be balls of energy and excitement,,
Sounds like a good story . Could be a laugh. Wouldn’t mind seeing it for the craic.
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