merrion street

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe, commenting on the recommendation issued last night by the Labour Court in respect of the Garda Associations, reiterated the Government’s long-standing respect for the rulings of the Labour Court as the independent industrial relations body of last resort in the state.

The Ministers welcomed the fact that the recommendation of the Labour Court last night led to the decision not to proceed with industrial action today and that members of AGSI and the GRA are reporting for duty as normal.

The outcome of the process, which should of course, be fully respected, is now being examined in detail by all sides and it is hoped that it will form the basis for a final resolution of this dispute following the balloting of members of AGSI and the GRA in due course.

The Ministers also restated their support for the Lansdowne Road Agreement as the centrepiece of public pay policy noting that the Labour Court's recommendation was explicitly made within that framework.

The cost of the proposed settlement will be met within existing budgetary allocations.

The Ministers also noted that the Public Service Pay Commission, which has recently been established and the work of which is getting underway, will provide a valuable input about the future development of public pay policy.