GRA Update 29th September

Dear Member

Following on from last week’s update, I wish to update you on the issues that are still outstanding and affect your pay and conditions.

Details of our outstanding issues are:

Public Service Pay Agreement 2024-26 - Local Bargaining 1% pay increase

Under local bargaining, a system introduced in the last pay agreement, there is a 1% pay increase to deal with any outstanding claims and any new claim over the lifetime of that agreement. The GRA submitted 8 claims to access this increase. Despite submitting these in June 2025, the official side didn’t respond until February 2026, when they rejected all claims bar one, and failed to advance any details of that claim. The GRA referred all these matters through the WRC for a determination.

Last week DPER’s informed the GRA that if we so wished we could postpone these claims and utilise the 1% as a general round increase for all members.

Garda Management informed the GRA that they want us to accept a new system of performance management in return for the 1% pay increase. They also indicated that if any of the GRA’s smaller claims for specialised unit allowances are successful, that they will have a productivity ask for those units as well.

We informed Garda Management that we believe that there is no productivity requirement outside of those already agreed to in the PSPA 2024-26 and that we are rejecting their proposal. Garda Management are to revert to the SLT and revert to us on this issue.

Subsistence and Travel Scheme

Despite repeated meetings with senior Garda Management issues still remain as to how the scheme is being interpreted and applied. We continue to emphasise that a member’s “home station” is where they are attached as was agreed at the WRC. Any attempt to change this will change the GRA’s position regarding this scheme. As per Deputy Commissioner Cleary’s instruction, Garda Management must detail every member for a rest period as per the WTA and that rest period may be availed of at their home station. There are a number of other issues including members’ home address and members claiming mileage. We have sought a direct point of contact to resolve initial issues to avoid lengthy DRP processes.

A further meeting has been requested and is due to be arranged.

Midlands Working Time Agreement

Garda Management continue to breach the WTA repeatedly and the GRA had sought an urgent meeting of the Rosters Working Group which was held on Friday 18th September. The GRA raised several breaches of the WTA regarding the Commissioner directing members to travel on rest days, changes to start times for non-core units, and breaching the daily rest protocols. Garda Management insist that they can direct members to travel on rest days but could not indicate where the WTA allows this to occur. They also informed us that they interpret the WTA to allow them, when an extraordinary event is declared, to change the start times of non-core members as many times as they want. These positions are completed opposed. At a further meeting on the 28th September, Garda Management put forward their proposal around members being directed to travel on a rest day that has not been cancelled. This was rejected and the position of the GRA was clearly set out that for any member to be directed to work on a rest day, that the Commissioner must initially cancel that day. Garda Management is to consult with the SLT and revert on our position.

CPI Allowances

This issue relates to six (6) allowances which every member is in receipt of at least one of. These allowances are the subject of agreements with Garda management and Government where they are subject to increases in line with the Consumer Price Index. Despite these agreements none of these allowances have been increased since 2008 and Garda management and Government are refusing to honour those agreements. This matter is before the WRC and another meeting is scheduled for the 9th October.

Conduct and Performance Regulations

These new regulations came into force in April 2025. At that time interim policies and procedure documents were issued until negotiations could take place with the garda staff associations. Additionally, there was no policy for minor breaches, so the GRA had made proposals in this regard. Despite requesting meeting to advance these policies and procedures no meeting has taken place. Any member receiving notification of alleged breaches of conduct or performance please contact their divisional CEC representative.

The misconduct investigation that was launched against a CEC member for his comments in the media relating to an incident where colleagues from his division were injured has been withdrawn. It is the belief of the CEC that this was instigated with the sole intention of silencing your elected representatives from speaking out on the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of the members that they represent.

Suspension Policy

Last year a new interim policy was issued when the previous policy was withdrawn. No independent appeal process is being proposed. Again, despite requesting meetings to negotiate on this new policy no meeting has taken place. Currently, Garda Management have imposed a change to this interim policy without any form of consultation. The GRA have opposed this change and have again sought consultation on this interim policy.

Divisor 1/41

This matter is currently before the Labour Court, where the GRA are seeking that the divisor is changed to 1/40 to reflect the working week. This divisor is utilised when calculating members pay and has been unresolved since November 2016. Despite correspondence from the Dept of Justice accepting that the divisor should be changed from 1/41 to 1/40, Garda Management and the Dept of Justice and DPER’s continue to challenge the correspondence and refuse to change the divisor.

Protected Disclosures

Following the revelations contained within RTE’s Investigates programme and issues that the GRA are aware of, we have written to the Minister for Justice seeking the establishment of an independent statutory tribunal of inquiry into the handling of protected disclosures within An Garda Siochana.

Last year, when the Commissioner took up his role, he met with the GRA and sought details of all the issues that were of concern to us. Since then, there has been little or no progress on these. We had hoped that the new Commissioner would address these issues but sadly we have been proved wrong. The only matter that has been finalised is the Travel and Subsistence scheme, and since then there are serious issues regarding how this is being interpreted and applied.

It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this position. We have consistently participated in the IR processes in good faith and with a genuine commitment to progressing and resolving issues, however, our efforts have been met with resistance, delay, and limited substantive progress.

The continued resistance to resolving these issues means our members continue to be materially disadvantaged, with their rights being disregarded and their entitlements being undermined and denied.

As you will have been aware through last Wednesday’s update, at a Special Meeting of the Central Executive Committee a motion was passed that our executive would not be making themselves available for overtime in the DMR on the following five dates: October 6, 10, 17, 24 & 31. Your CEC and divisional representatives will be updating their divisions regarding this impending action over the coming days and weeks and will keep you appraised and informed of all details relating to this action and other issues as they arise.

Best Regards,

Ronan Slevin, General Secretary