A RECOMMENDATION that a commission on Garda pay be part of a major review of the force is believed to be in a report which will be submitted shortly to the Government.
The report is being finalised by a Strategic Management Initiative (SMI) steering committee set up to advise the Government on Garda management reform. It is based on an 11 week review of the Garda carried out by management consultants Deloitte & Touche last year which recommended a pay commission for gardai.
The final report by the SMI steering committee, headed by businessman Mr Tony Barry, is expected to be forwarded to Government shortly but it is not clear if it will be considered by Cabinet before Easter.
The proposal for a commission on pay will help meet demands for a Garda pay review but it is not clear if it will be supported at Cabinet.
Garda unrest over pay has led to a threat by gardai up to the rank of superintendent to hold a protest through Dublin to the Dail next month. This would be the first public demonstration by gardai.
There are also signs that unrest is reaching even higher ranks. The 44 Garda chief superintendents, the highest rank below commissioner, are reported to be angry over yet another failure to complete a pay agreement now outstanding for seven years. They are holding a meeting next week to decide on a new approach to their dispute.
The executive of the Chief Superintendents' Association is facing unrest from members angry at the failure to achieve an acceptable pay agreement. They are said to be particularly angry at a reference to a "suitable" pay differential between them and the rank of assistant commissioner. This was in the Buckley report on higher public sector pay.
It is also believed that the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has decided it will not accept changes in work practices, recommended by the steering committee, unless these are accompanied by a commission to review pay for officers of garda rank.
This GRA position is supported by the Garda Federation, the association which represents some 2,500 officers who broke away from the GRA over pay issues.
In a statement yesterday, the federation said it would insist on "pay for productivity" for its members and "will not willingly co operate with changes in work practices where pay is not a consideration".
Senior Garda sources point out that changes to work practices would, of necessity, have to be implemented alongside a review of pay and conditions for officers.