The Garda Representative Association (GRA) considers IBEC’s comments this morning to be an opportunistic attack to divide public opinion over public servants’ pension entitlements. The proposals put forward this morning would not add significantly to the exchequer’s current finances; their statement merely creates confusion that public servants are better off than their private sector counterparts. It is a divisive measure.

The benchmarking body took into account the pensions of public servants and this was used as a reason not to give a pay award this time last year; even though gardaí had changed their work practices to give more, to be more productive and more efficient.

GRA General Secretary PJ Stone said, “It is extremely disappointing that a body like IBEC should be taken at face value on this issue. Their reason to exist is to ensure that workers do not detract from the riches of the employers. They are proposing to reduce working and living standards and employee benefits so that the fat cats can get fatter.

“IBEC represent the employers who gained the most from the economy in the boom years, yet twice over we were overlooked by the benchmarking body. Now after years of exorbitant profits, IBEC have the nerve to ask us to make the sacrifices. We presume they are asking gardaí, nurses and other emergency services to take a pay cut; and to cut the pensions of those who have given their working lives in the service of the State.”