Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
RANK AND FILE gardaí have voted to accept a public service pay deal which will see them get a phased pay rise, totalling 3%, over the next 12 months.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said that vote was passed by 74% in favour to 26% against.
The deal, which falls under the terms offered under Building Momentum, the latest Public Service Agreement proposed last year, was recommended by the GRA’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
A GRA spokesperson said the leadership of the organisation had examined the content of the proposals and was satisfied that they protected members’ interests regarding ongoing change and modernisation of the force.
GRA Interim General Secretary Philip McAnenly welcomed the result of the vote.
“It has been a difficult time for all members of the association policing during the pandemic and the subsequent reopening and we believe this has been recognised within these proposals,” he said.
“The result of today’s ballot will see an increase of 1% for our members, with effect from October 1st, with two similar increases in 2022 and this is welcomed by the Garda Representative Association and its Executive.”
The deal, which was agreed by other public service representative union groups this year, equates to a 1% rise in wages from next month.
This will see Garda members receive an average of a €500 per annum increase in October, with another 1% in February 2022 and a further 1% in October 2022.
Heather Humphreys, the Minister for Justice, welcomed the outcome of the ballot.
“Garda members have provided an exemplary service to the public over the course of the COVID-19 public health emergency, providing invaluable support to those who needed it most all around the country.
“I am pleased that those members will now benefit from the pay increases which the agreement provides, along with their colleagues across the public sector,” she said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Well done to the garda, who don’t get paid enough for what they do. They are also under resourced. Remember the next time you need help in a violent or threatening situation, they will be the people that most of us call.
@Mango mango: it’s incredibly frustrating to be assaulted in a well lit train station full of CCTV and to be told by Gardai they couldn’t find them or do anything about it. While only one week later being stopped by Gardai at a checkpoint with a friend after going for coffee… and getting ourselves, our belongings and the car searched from top to bottom, and being told it’s just a routine search. Like what? They don’t care as much for solving these sorts of crimes… they take the easy route and hyper-enforce the drug laws because it’s easier for them. And don’t forget, it’s 70+% non-violent drug users who are ending up in our courts because of them. They could choose to overlook these minor drug use crimes and prioritise violent crime, but they choose not to. Little respect for them.
@Tomo: I’m not a garda, nor do I know any personally, or know the operational workings of the garda. All I know is that they risk their personal safety everyday going to work for a small financial reward in my opinion, I would not take the same risk to my personal safety for the salary they get. I really don’t understand your point of having no respect for them for searching your car, If you resembled the people that attacked you would it be ok to search your car? If you feel it was an unjust search I’m guessing you can take their badge numbers and make an official complaint.
@Tomo: yeah refusing to take a random drug test themselves.
@Mary Nugent: mary you’re correct. While the gardai deserve the respect for their endeavours they are by no means the pillar of society. Take the uniform of their just like the rest of us. And ye can take that to the bank.
@Tomo: there is no such thing as a routine search, gardai have to have reasonable suspicion to search you or your vehicle. Tell them to take a walk next time.
@Ross Hetherington: ye see ross you’re comment is 100% correct. It’s time for an audit on the gardai. Film everything. Although good chance you get battered for it.
@Mary Nugent: Who refused to take a random drug test Mary?
@Tomo: not sure what you expected them to do they they can’t find the people responsible. Can you provide a link whereby 70%+ of people in the courts are non- violent drug users.
@Mango mango: a garda who does overtime though can hit 6 figures.
@Teddy Bear: so a person who works more gets paid more? Nice!
@Tomo: you must be a drug user then ???
@Tomo: i remember driving through cork city before with 2 friends just after getting some food and was collecting my other friends from his girlfriends house before heading home and i got pulled over. Was asked where we were from and what we were doing. I said where i was from and that we were just getting food. He asked if there was nowhere to get food in my town (25 mins away) and did i need to come into the city to do that? I was like eh what?! I was then told to get out of my car and stand by the wall. Me and my friends did. They proceeded to tear my car apart in a search. Stuff all over the side of the road. Found nothing obviously. Got back in their car shouted at us to go home and drove off. Cant say my respect levels are too high after that incident myself tbh.
@Eugene Comaskey: are you serious? Not a drug on any of us, not even alcohol or caffeine. They were discriminating us based on our age (young and in 20’s). If this was a car with middle aged women, there wouldn’t have been a question asked. They would’ve checked taxed and signalled onwards. Maybe you should educate yourself and stop making ridiculous assumptions.
Speaking as an ex Police officer (not Garda), my experience dealing with the Garda is they look for an excuse not to do their job. It’s twenty years from being a modern police service.
@Michael: correct
@Michael: they are mind bogglingly lazy. I know loads of gaurds in their mid 30s. Gargle and riding female colleagues is about all that interests them. And yes, a colossal amount of female gardai have a bit on the side in work.
@Teddy Bear: That is a very serious accusation to make,have you evidence ????
Pity they can’t do their job
@Pirates of Ireland: join and show them the ropes
@iohanx: I’m afraid he wouldn’t see aye to aye with the law.
@Pirates of Ireland: And how’s your job going Blackbeard?
@Pirates of Ireland: call into a court room and see how Gardaí are not doing there job. Wouldn’t be able to fit into some courts on certain days.
@Tomás Barrett: too many donuts?
Emergency services had thier pay decimated after the financial crisis and it has taken years to achieve pay restoration, its about time they get a rise and I hope the Healthcare workers get looked after also for obvious reasons.
Hard to hear of pay increases when so many people and the economy have been impacted by Covid. I know they have a difficult job to do but the timing is not great.
@Kisha Kisha: So the Garda can only get pay restoration on the same day you get yours? Typical begrudgery.
Why are they getting 3%, while all others in government employment are getting just 2%.
@Michael Byrne: better bargaining power
@Michael Byrne: All public servants are getting 2% while a further 1% is set aside for the new sectoral bargaining fund which unions can lodge claims on behalf of staff, so there is little between any group as it is open to the unions to pursue any sectoral claim. In addition Lower-paid State employees will get €1,000 instead of the percentage increase, in payments of €500 on October 1 each year. This is equal to an estimated 5pc for some over the course of the deal.
The rank and file retire after their 30 years on a pension that would cost you in excess of 1.2 million euro.
@der Fussballmeister: jealous much!
@der Fussballmeister: but not before 56 for the majority. Don’t forget their pension payments made over 30yrs are the equivalent of 40yrs premium.
@der Fussballmeister: for your information, Garda pensions have been diminished significantly 3 times since 1995, with latest cohort who joined post 2013 receiving about half of what the pre1995 Gardai get. Their pension will be worth c€16k a year (slightly above what they would receive on the dole) and they have to retire at 60, whilst not qualify for the Contributory Old Age Pension (for which they contribute exactly the same as anyone else) until they hit 66 (going to be 68 by then I think). So your information is sadly lacking there der bulls1tmeister. Don’t let anything like facts interfere with your rant
@der Fussballmeister: if you wanted the pension, you could have joined yourself.
@Ian Lester: well said sergeant
@Joe Bloggs: unlike you, I wasn’t tall enough
@Paul Clancy: Bertie gave them the pin number and they used it, the highest paid in Europe and possible the least motivated.
@der Fussballmeister: They’re just facts, information available to anyone who wanted to offer an informed opinion – not your cup of tea obviously.
Good on them they deserve it.
It’s cut there pay should be a corrupt force also racist I was framed up by them still awaiting a payment no apology or pay as urged by supreme court I also had my phone line knocked out by a Jcb working for a member of the forces husband a hot run nothing done no tax insurance or certified for Jcb they are lowest of low to me
have your say