November Update

Dear Member,

There have been a number of talks in recent weeks on some significant key issues that affect our members’ rights and conditions of work and I wanted to briefly update you on the Association’s progress.

These issues include.

IR Process & Agreed Reports:

We continue to push for the official side to honour agreed reports and agreements relating to the secondment to St Paul’s Medical Aid and those governing allowances not in the nature of pay, which are Detective, Plain Clothes, Boot, Uniform, Community Relations and Crime Prevention Allowance. All of the above matters have been referred to the WRC, and we are awaiting dates for these issues. The benefits of our continued involvement in the Conciliation process is questionable if the official side continue to refuse to honour previous agreements.

The current Suspension Policy, which was imposed without agreement and breaches previous agreements, has also been referred to the WRC. Following interaction with Garda Management, a further meeting with the AC Governance is planned to discuss if a possible resolution can be reached.

Subsistence & Travel:

The proposed scheme is still under discussion regarding the variations that are applicable to members of An Garda Síochána only. These variations will allow for operational requirements where members are required to perform duty away from their home station in excess of either 5, 10 or 24 hours.

Engagement has taken place between Garda Management and Revenue, who have furnished their requirements and conditions in order to allow subsistence under these variations.

We have met with the two Deputy Commissioners and the CCO, in addition to Finance and HR, to discuss the proposed scheme to ensure that members are entitled to claim subsistence when they are unable to return to their home stations to avail of their meal breaks.

If an agreement is reached in principle, the proposal will be presented to the CEC.

Sickness Absence Policy:

A meeting has been arranged on this matter on the 12th December. Previous discussions had failed to reach agreement with any of the garda associations. Attempts to change the definition of an injury on duty was a matter of grave concern for the associations during those discussions, in addition to proposals on how members would be treated when returning to work following injury or illness.

A further update will issue after that meeting.

An updated HQ 7/25 was recently issued regarding members who are resuming duty from periods of illness or injury, or who are on restricted working hours. Any issues that members encounter please ensure that you contact your CEC representative as soon as possible.

EU Presidency:

As you are aware, Conference passed a motion where the GRA would refuse to engage on the EU Presidency until the above three items, sickness absence, suspension and subsistence and travel, were resolved. This continues to be the position of the association.

Conduct, Performance Regulations:

A meeting was held on the 31st October with all the associations on all the interim policies and procedures around these new regulations. The issue around minor breaches and the absence of a policy is currently under discussion. The new regulations make no provision for minor breaches and a policy is required to ensure members don’t find themselves being dealt with under the regulations for any alleged minor breach of misconduct. The GRA have submitted a proposed policy on minor breaches and the AC Governance is currently considering a resolution to this issue.

The Performance Regulations discussion focused on the fact that these regulations include roles and functions for non-sworn members where they are first or second line supervisors. In addition, there is the involvement of HR staff in the PIP (performance improvement plan) process. A further meeting is planned regarding these regulations to discuss this further.

Local Bargaining:

Under the PSPA 2024-2026 there is 1% and a further 2% promised in the next agreement to resolve any outstanding claims or any new claim over the course of this agreement. The GRA have submitted 8 claims in total to Garda Management and still yet to be informed if these claims are being accepted.

The information currently coming from DPER’s and Garda Management is inconsistent and we have sought the presence of DPER’s at our next meeting.

1/40 Divisor:

At the last meeting of the WRC on the 21st October there was no progress. Previous written commitments to change from 1/41 to 1/40, which would result in an increased overtime rate are being challenged by the official side. We sought that the matter be referred to the Labour Court for its determination and we are now awaiting a date from the court.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I will continue to keep you informed of any developments as the year draws to a close.

Yours,

Ronan Slevin,

General Seretary