GARDA REPRESENTATIVES BROUGHT bank statements and mortgage details to a meeting with the Garda Commissioner today to highlight the effect of cuts on their salaries.
Speaking after the meeting, the Garda Representative Association said that withdrawal of ‘goodwill’ services will still go ahead in coming days if changes to garda work practices go ahead.
President of the GRA John Parker told TheJournal.ie that the timing of the cuts to salaries was wrong. “People are in dire financial need,” he said.
Parker said the Commissioner will take time to reflect on the meeting, noting that action is expected very soon.
“This isn’t something that would be a long open-ended situation. We need support fairly immediately,” he said.
Gardaí will change their work practices by no longer carrying out supplementary functions often done on their own time or at their own expense – which they call “turning off the goodwill tap” – if the cuts go ahead as expected.
Some of the representatives brought details of some members’ mortgages arrears, overdrafts and bank statements to show how they were already struggling to get by on current pay levels.
The Commissioner and the central executive committee of the GRA met at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park today to discuss issues around pay cuts and lack of resources.
Shortly after the meeting, Commissioner Martin Callinan said he hoped nothing would be “said or done to interfere with the public support” enjoyed by the force in fulfilling its duties.
“I reminded those present of how conscious I was of the fantastic work that was being done on a daily basis by the members of An Garda Síochána.”
He said he listened carefully to the issues raised by the central executive of the Garda Representative Association today.
- Additional reporting by Christine Bohan
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