GARDAÍ MAY not issue penalty point or fixed charge notices to motorists next Tuesday as part of the industrial action being taken by staff in the public service in protest at proposed pay cuts.
In an internal bulletin the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has advised members that they should continue to enforce all summary legislation on Tuesday but that they should take cognisance of the non-necessity to issue the fixed penalty notices.
These notices are issued for speeding, failure to wear a seatbelt or driving while holding a mobile phone, or dangerous overtaking, among other offences.
A GRA spokesman said he understood this action to be within the law because the issuing of fixed penalty notices was discretionary. The association is advising its members to exercise this discretion next Tuesday.
A GRA member said they expected the number of penalty points issued on Tuesday to be significantly lower than average.
The GRA view that issuing penalty points is discretionary was disputed by a senior Garda source last night. However, he admitted to The Irish Timesthere was little management could do if the number of road traffic offences identified and notices issued was lower than usual. Asked about the GRA stance, a Garda spokesman said: "An Garda Síochána will be providing a normal service on the 24th with full resources.
A spokesman for Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said gardaí had served the country well and had always put public safety to the forefront of their actions and that they would continue to do so.
In the circular, GRA general secretary PJ Stone also urged members to turn off their personal mobile phones for 24 hours from 6am on November 24th.
He also recommended that they should not make themselves available for any voluntary overtime over the same period.
He also said that they should “desist from using any personal equipment as part of their official duties for a period of 24 hours from 6am on November 24th” and that off-duty members should join demonstrations by civilian colleagues outside Garda stations. He said that they should not carry placards, pickets or logos.
Mr Stone said that the GRA central executive committee had “discussed more extreme measures”. “It is not in our best interest to outline these at this time,” he said.
He also said: “We have a number of other honest actions as part of our graduated response should the Government choose to escalate the situation.”
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has advised its members to only carry out functions assigned to them under the Garda Code. “Nor should members undertake tasks normally carried out by civilian public servants who will be on strike,” it said.
Meanwhile the Department of Finance said that the majority of civil servants would be engaging in the industrial action but that cover would be provided in areas where there may be a potential threat to life such as Met Éireann and the Coast Guard.
It said that court sittings would be cancelled except in emergency cases.