Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to travel to European Parliament to press for the implementation of 2014 recommendations on the right to organise and collective-bargaining rights
This week, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) will send its General Secretary, Ronan Clogher, and Deputy General Secretary, Kevin Bolger, to the European Parliament.
They will meet with EuroCOP and Irish MEPs Maria Walsh, Michael McNamara and Regina Doherty to highlight the impacts resulting from the failure to legislate into Irish law the 2014 recommendations of the European Social Rights Committee. The AGSI are now seeking to advance their original complaint to the next stage within the European arena with the overarching objective of securing legislation to implement these rights into Irish law.
11 years have passed since the European Committee of Social Rights found Ireland in violation of Articles 5 (the right to organise) and 6 (the right to bargain collectively) of the European Social Charter. Despite that ruling, the right to organise and the right to collective bargaining remains unavailable to Gardaí, this is seen in particular with the lack of parity of esteem and the prohibition of members of An Garda Sìochàna from meaningful participation within the National Pay Negotiations framework thus rendering Garda representative bodies at a significant disadvantage progressing their members terms and conditions.
AGSI General Secretary Ronan Clogher said, “11 years on and our members still lack the right to collective bargaining. We now go to Brussels to call on Irish and European decision-makers to act. The recommendation was clear – we are entitled to engage in pay and working-conditions negotiations to create a fair and balanced industrial relations environment – yet meaningful implementation in Ireland remains outstanding.”
Nigel Dennis, EuroCOP Head of Office / General Secretary said, “It is deeply concerning that, more than a decade after the European Social Rights Committee’s report, Gardaí in Ireland still lack the right to meaningful collective bargaining. EuroCOP stands firmly with AGSI in calling for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the European Social Rights Committee. Police officers across Europe must have their fundamental rights respected, and Ireland should be no exception.”
AGSI intend to raise the matter once again with the Irish Government on their return.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
* In May 2012, AGSI, through EuroCOP, successfully lodged a complaint with the European Committee of Social Rights, establishing that Ireland had failed to uphold Gardaí’s rights under the European Social Charter, particularly under Articles 5 and 6 – Complaint 83/2012
* The Committee found that Garda representative associations were prohibited from joining national umbrella organisations and lacked sufficient access to pay discussions – both violations of the Charter.
* Despite clear recommendations from the European Committee of Social Rights, the right to organise and meaningful collective bargaining remains absent for Gardaí in Ireland.
