Garda body can use state funds for action
A garda body which is threatening to take strike action over pay cuts is getting more than €235,000 a year from the Department of Justice.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is forging ahead with plans to ballot for industrial action after the government imposed pay cuts in the Budget.
The GRA gets a state grant of over €235,000 a year and part of a €20,000 grant to garda bodies to cover legal costs.
This leaves the department in the peculiar position where its own funds may be used to take a legal challenge to which it is strongly opposed.
Any person who induces a garda to withdraw his labour, or any garda who withdraws his labour, faces prosecution and a jail term up to five years.
There was speculation at the weekend that sending out ballot papers would lead to the immediate arrest of GRA leaders, including PJ Stone, but sources said it would most likely spark a legal battle.
If ballot papers are sent out, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy may issue a direction urging them not to go ahead with the vote. The GRA would then go to the High Court to seek a judicial review of their right to hold the ballot.
There was some speculation that the association had backed down on its threat to ballot and was instead polling members on their attitude to a strike.
A GRA spokesperson said there were "no changes" to its announcement of a ballot and said it was likely to go ahead before Christmas.
It is understood that various legal issues are being examined, including a method of ensuring individual garda votes are not identifiable.
Draconian
The GRA spokesperson said the laws relating to gardai taking industrial action were "draconian".
A government source said the issuing of ballot papers would be a "serious development" but it would be "a different kettle of fish" if the association backed down and only sent out questionnaires.
The Department of Justice confirmed it gives the GRA a total subvention of €235,884. Of this, €31,484 is for postal and communication costs, €94,689 towards accommodation costs, and €109,711 to cover wages.
- Anne-Marie Walsh Industry Correspondent
Irish Independent
