Forensic scientists will refuse to examine crime scenes from Monday if union demands are not met, the IMPACT trade union warned yesterday.
A union official, Mr Peter Nolan, said he had written to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, to warn him that forensic scientists would not be available to take samples from scenes of serious crimes, including drugs, terrorist and sexual offences.
"I have taken the unusual step of alerting the Garda Commissioner to the situation because I don't believe the Justice Department is taking seriously the prospect of major disruption to criminal investigations next week," Mr Nolan said. "We have talked for two years and tomorrow is the final chance to avoid a highly damaging dispute."
The union is due to meet officials from the Department of Justice this morning. A Department spokesman said the union had been offered "additional up-gradings" and an overall review of the office. The Department has also announced its intention to appoint a deputy director.
Mr Nolan said the dispute centred on a new career structure to reflect the increased workload. Senior scientists at the lab are also angry at the increased workload of testing cattle tags. Tags suspected of being removed and reattached to another animal to avoid a BSE diagnosis are now being sent to the lab for examination.
Mr Nolan said a large number of staff left for private sector jobs, and the union was looking for 18 promotions. Staff were leaving the lab to go to the private sector, "where they can command higher salaries and enjoy far better career prospects".
As a result there was a major backlog of forensic work, he said. In the past decade there had been a 500 per cent increase in drug seizures and in the last four years a 42 per cent increase in sexual assaults.
