With crime on the rise why are we spending less on fighting crime and putting the brave frontline garda under so much pressure..no hope of any gards been removed from outside the top government officials

A country cannot spend money it doesn’t have.

Tell that to the bankers mark.

David,

Who voted FF / FG into power?

The rapes/robberies/muggings still seem to be happening. How long do you think it takes for a gardai response to a 999 call? Meanwhile, the sergeant and other, essentially line managers, in the guards are thinking of striking to protest at some frankly ridiculous allowances (I.e. allowances for not getting an allowance – the journal covered this before). Like front line and graduate nurses, the beat cops will be asked to protest to keep the perks of the higher ranks. And if allowances have been made a significant part of the pay, then there is a big problem with how pay has been structured, and now is the time to put a real value (not emotional, like I’m sure your point was meant) on police work.

Alien

Do you know what allowances are and what their for. I don’t so I won’t say if they are ridiculous.

These PEOPLE worked for their positions. They earn their pay. They don’t get something for nothing.

I am not in favour of those who put others down because they are not happy with their own lot. They would be better served working on improving themselves.

It’s not about the cuts its about my safety been put at risk while others remain over pertected..I’m not that much of a target no new car etc but for anyone who is well to do its only a matter of time before your robbed beaten if your Lucky…less garda less chance for you

In Germany, Police officers earn about 20% less than Ireland.

Maybe it’s time to let the Public Sector strike and break it. Enough of the tail wagging the dog. They’re meant to be working for the tax payer not the other way around.

@danny,I’m sure there are other countries who’s police get paid more…its Ireland not Germany…
Obama gets less than enda Kenny

The cuts are to ALLOWANCES.

@mark its still in with the pay packet and used to pay bills etc..

Danny Can’t comment on the accuracy of the 20% stat but I would reckon that the cost of living is far lower in Germany and don’t forget the 7-8% of a pension levy which is off gross and not removed for comparison.

Well as far as I have read there is a €90 p/w rent allowance to those posted away from home. As most house share that is 270p/w for 3 bed house in rural areas where rent is closer to 140 p/w. so utilities and grocers well covered by allowance. Nice if ye can get it.

@danny, they also have better working conditions, equipment etc… The 20% is way off target, it’s in the region if 10 per cent and police in Germany pay a different tax rate to the rest of Germany. Factor in the city allowance they get and it’s bang on target

Cost of living is probably 20% cheaper too.

Most people house share?????

@Mark Dalt. “The country has no money”.

That’s a wonderfully pithy statement Mark. A statement made time and time again here, there and everywhere.

Well. If the country has no money, then I’m afraid the country has no police force.

Very similar to the private sector ‘service industry’ Mark. If its customers can’t pay, business becomes unviable. It goes out of business. It’s workers move to social welfare.

No difference here Mark.

Please think before you board the populist band wagon.

Vincent

Be careful what you wish for. I for one am old enough to remember bin strikes in Dublin. Firefighting strike in Wexford. Bus strike.

None of this was much fun and was on an individual basis. Imagine an all service national strike. I’d rather not.

And you know this for sure do you!

Did someone just say Obama gets paid less than Kenny???
Seriously; who still believes that rubbish?

Ya but there’s about 80% more police per ratio to here

Yeah most of the young gardi posted to rural areas away from home do house share.

Cost of living is 20% higher in Ireland – check Eurostat and purchasing parity index – plus – employers in Germany and all over Europe pay a much higher rate of PRSI equivalent which provides a host of savings such as subsidised child care amongst other things which qualifies as a “social wage” – if Irish employers paid the same rate it would raise 9 billion for the tax payer wiping out the structural deficit – but yeah waffle on about some superficial stat that distorts reality

Obama earns $400,000, which is around €300,000. Enda Kenny earns €200,000. Do the maths!

Precisely Nigel!

“All service national strike”
I don’t get that. (Not saying that u want it but in general, why?)
in the article he said they are looking to talk to the nurses unions for joint action.
That is holding us to ransom. throw in the teachers and the street cleaners for extra fun, anyone who gets paid by tax payers money. Aren’t they all lucky to have a JOB. Alot of people don’t. Everyone has to budget in hard times so across the government sector 5% cut. Judges,TD’s, teachers, everyone. Fair yes/no?

No hate meant btw

@david- strikes are dependant on public goodwill. That would be in short supply for any Government employees striking at a time of national emergency. Too many people remember Nurses striking during the Celtic Tiger looking to share in the good times. Guess what? That goes two ways.

Ok.

Here’s something for the public at large to think about.

Is it right that a registered charity that is working out of a street shop has to pay same rates as a business? Water rates, council rates, business electricity rates etc…

When, a local TD or councillor who has his constituency office on the same street is exempt from these charges and rates?

Yet that TD gets an ALLOWANCE to pay these non-existent expenses? And they all claim it? Is that fair?

The government should get their own house in order before attacking those that really serve the public, often with the loss of their lives…,

“Aren’t they all lucky to have a JOB”

No. Its not luck. Its hard work and traning and a dedication to public service.

By the way ‘just be thankful you have a job’ is usually the phrase trotted out just before working people have their pay and conditions attacked by unscrupulous employers and governments.

An allowance I receive is on the chopping board too, ( MSA )if and when they cut it from my weekly salary I will be on roughly about €350 weekly,it’s called an allowance but miss worded in my opinion,it should be included in my salary but military service allowance is graduated depending on the amount of service a person does. My wages are shite,it’s no state secret and are freely viewed on gov websites,whilst on the other hand allowances which are in there entity allowances ( rent,clothing,nightwear cleaning ) they all need to go, Not bad for a full time employee of the government.

” A country cannot spend money it does not have ” Mark Dalt….. where do you think the 3 billion is coming from in March to pay a ” dead ” bank. plus the billions that have already been paid in the last two years. The lowest paid in government gets 90.000 plus. Bankters are creaming 250/600eu. The rich have got richer since Kenny lied his way into office, while the ordinary people have got poorer. Ireland is the rich man’s haven.

110% right Vincent. But just look at all the la la land people who gave red thumbed you. Let them strike. See how long their strike funds last. Lots of gardai have several properties and moon light as bouncers (although they are prohibited from doing do). Time we cleaned away the real filth from our streets.

@ Mask. You utter fool. You proved the point the previous commentator made.

Property in Germany is about twice Irish prices so its actually more expensive to live here. Oh and while I’m at it, my take home pay is less in Germany than it would be in Ireland. So if you think you have it tough, look abroad for comparisons.

They would be back in a week with their work shy tails between their legs. They gave it so rosy now they can’t afford to strike.

@ Kevin. I live in Germany. And u can confirm you are talking out your arse.

Says a lot about a group who are supposed to be upholding justice. More concerned about their ridicilious allowances etc.

Vincent that is a highly ignorant comment relating to who they work for. They work to protect the state. They too are tax payers just as much as the next working person. There’s Gardai , fire fighters, paramedics, etc who don’t have money left by the end of a week when paid. These people go the extra mile on a regular basis for those they don’t know and get little thanks for it. That’s more than some do…. So when the little things that make day to day life manageable are being removed from them, surely you can appreciate why they would feel this way.

“Dedication, hard work, training”. Sorry that sounds like any job I’ve had but when the boss man says I’m getting a pay cut, I’m getting it And like it because the other option of being SACKED is worse. Put that on the discussion table and see if they will strike!. Sorry for u if u think everyone outside of a public sector job isn’t doing the three above
They need to take the pay cut and that’s that. But in fairness it needs to be across all public sectors
If that has pissed u off again for some reason, sorry. Gotta be said

I’m in private sector and see the work being done there too; it’s dog eat dog. But these are essential services that have a whole different requirement of its workers including the risk of life. Let’s face it they aren’t going out to tell people they have won the lotto. These things clearly don’t have a price but their pay and allowances are one of the only tangible rewards they get for their efforts.

Read the article. The allowances they speak of make up a significant part of their pay. The ridiculous allowances everyone seems to harp on about are generally minuscule.

So? Canadian officers earn 20% more. What’s your point.

@simon,you sorry excuse for a human..mind your own business and stick to your local German site..you deserted Ireland so you have no right to comment..FYI I wouldn’t be insulting people just because your in Germany just saying like

What is the point of working unsociable hours and nights which can severely damage your health, lifestyle and social life. What ya on about. This article did not mention any of the other allowances you speak of and there was no mention of striking or action in relation to the one you mention,
Your an absolute idiot

Where are your statistics to back up this house sharing ?

M Bowe. Stats. Evidence ? Of this house sharing. Or just mumble garbage

*Kio. ‘Lucky to have a job’. That’s rubbish. A lot of people joined the public sector during the Celtic tiger for the security of a steady and modest wage and security. A lot of other people got greedy and went other paths. Just because it may not have worked out in the end and they lost a lot of not everything. That’s doesn’t mean public sector workers are lucky. Why didn’t other people join???? Because they thought there was more money out there ,
Meh

Lots of gardai moonlight as bouncers. Haha. Horse shit

At Simon – sorry mate stats re Germany are objective fact and not open to debate – Eurostat compares cost of living scientifically and includes all costs including housing – They report that Ireland is 20% more expensive – just cos u live somewhere does not mean you have the faintest insight into reality – that requires intelligence, honesty and research

Why uphold justice when they’re being paid next to nothing to do so? Luckily that’s just my opinion and not theirs because I certainly wouldn’t be doing it. And not only do they uphold justice, who is called to the scene on every tragic accident and every death? They deal with more than most could imagine. And they’re protecting you from scrotes right now even though you’re so ungrateful to them.

@ Kevin. ‘Mate’? What are you, Phil Mitchell? You are the sort of fool who believed the other ‘intelligent’ statisticians who said we were in for a soft landing. Intelligence son is taking knowledge and information and applying it to real world situations not following it blindly like a moron.

M Bowe, how many politicians are house sharing? None. Why? Because they don’t need to. And I’ll bet you’re not house sharing, nor are most of your colleagues.

Relying on gardai and not society to reduce crime is destined to fail.

And they have the respect of the public because they behave professionally. None if your “loose the hahitude” crap.

I think you are 100% right.

Tough sh1t.

Actually Frank it was harder for guards and nurses to get mortgages than private sector workers as our pay is on record and couldn’t be fudged like some in the private sector. The banks certainly were not throwing money at us then.

Guess there’s no problem then eh?

Yeah yeah yeah – they pay tax blah blah blah. Here we go again. Simple question: where does the money to pay their wages come from?

Taxes which they pay too. Gardai like most public servants have paid their fair share and if your response is blah blah blah than please don’t comment on what I write again. If you are going to have an intelligent discussion than please don’t be childish.

The point is that it’s not an intelligent discussion.

As we’ve seen so many times, people who work for the government really don’t seem to have a clue about where their wages come from …. I pay taxes (on your pay which derives 100% from taxes generated on the wealth producing sectors of the economy – duh!)

They’re better paid than Police in the UK and indeed the PSNI in Ulster.

And worked far less

PSNI get full pay from day one in training. Gardai work for a year on less than the dole. LESS

Yes but the rest of us are on close to that as a permanent wage Max

Different jurisdiction has different minimum wage and living expenses. Can’t compare with the PSNI. And anyhow their starting wag for new recruits is over £28k. Future new Garda recruits will be starting at just over €21k. Do a bit more research before commenting

As I’ve said before private sector workers are completely outnumbered on the journal. Look through the thumbs, pro public service comments have green thumbs. Every negative comment towards the public sector get red thumbs. No point! Cue the public service red thumbs.

@ Aoife
I think you’ll find the red thumbs are a mix of public sector along with people with at least half a degree of common sense! People who are related to, married to or friends with Gardai, Nurses & Firefighters! Just because you don’t agree with other’s opinions doesn’t make them invalid! I’ll expect the first red thumb from you so Aoife!

Some years ago , Pre economic crash the “irish independent” ran an article about how gardai, Firefighters and Nurses could not afford to buy a house , All of a sudden the same paper claims the above are being paid small fortunes. forhttp://www.independent.ie/national-news/nurses-and-firefighters-cant-afford-own-homes-79304.htmltunes .

The media are on a witch hunt to vilify all public workers and its the new cool thing to do with lots of people it seems !

Vincent, NO THEYRE NOT

@Aoife, and @Nuffsaid – that’s because the private sector worker (the taxpayers) are becoming out-numbered in Ireland.

Somebody recently said here that if you rob Peter to pay Paul, at least you can count on support for Paul. The PS workers will never get it because it’s not in their (short term) interest to “get it”.

The whole country will soon be on the dole, or dependent on EU handouts – as the PS already is. I’m starting to think the place is finished.

Christopher. I couldn’t have worded that better myself!!!! It is exactly my opinion

I am so glad you said try as been the operative word !

Greece had to downsize their police force too.

In fairness the TD pensions were always huge… Even before the celtic tiger..

Look down Jackie. The full stop is right there, next to the comma.

sorry emmet buttons are broken and missing on my pc

.

Overall, crime is falling in Ireland. Ireland is safer than Germany.

Yes wasteful spending in all areas is shocking. Can someone tell me why we pay millions to legal firms for advice when there are many hundreds of solicitors without work? 30 briefs at 100k a pop is way cheaper than paying the huge legal firms millions to waste.

I know a man who works in the civil service. If his new super computer work system goes bust he has to ring a call centre, log the call, explain the problem etc. The call centre ring the ‘service engineer’ to get them to fix it. What’s annoying is that the ‘service engineer’ is sitting beside the civil servant logging the original call and they can’t communicate about the issue till the call is logged.

Unreal, mind boggles!!!

Good story. Have you heard the one about the civil servant who blah blah blah……. And yeah I know you’ll come back its true because your friends cousins sisters brother in law works there. Public sectors wages first followed by similar cuts to private sector leading to calls from private sector workers to cut public sector wages and round and round we go while employers laugh at us.

If I had the time Ronan or the diesel to get there I would bring ye to show you.

They might be on duty who said anything about doing work !

It’s all the scm bags on here who hate the authority of the law. You’ll find them in the dail bar wearing black and grey track suits. The top one has ginger hair, he knows the front liners have had enough and it will end in strikes……right about the time a second bailout is thrown upon us!! Muppets

AGSI don’t give a dame about GRA members. An Garda Siochana would be better served if there was only one representative association but that’s not going to happen. We both know the GRA are pretty much a toothless tiger. They threatened strike a few years ago and backed down immediately. They can do absolutely nothing for rank and file members. It’s a horrible situation and members know this. I wish it would change. Gardai deserve representation that have the clout to take REAL ACTION.

AGSI have as little power as the GRA. If they walk out on the talks it won’t stop the cuts coming. Bottom line, neither of them are unions.

Why should they – the whole idea behind this Austerity thing is to transfer money from the Poor to the Rich – and if jobs are created – they will be at low wages .

Jim,

who voted FF / FG into office?

Jim, austerity was meant to cut spending while increasing revenue to meet a balance. The revenue increase has been put through, but there has been an increase in health and justice spending – it’s time to start reducing this, and not threatening security because you don’t want to take part.

NB: these reductions should have amen place already, regardless of he socialising of bank debt (aka the “not a bailout”)

Mark

Who voted them in? Do you know?

Well said Paul.

@david- it was me. Well, Fine Gael anyway. There’s a guy down the road who voted Labour in, I think.

David,

Did Irish people must take responsibility for the way they voted in 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2011?

I’m sick of the BS coming out of mark, Vincent. When will you guys get it……THERE US NO FCUKING MORE TO GIVE! You can’t get blood out of a stone get it….No….then we’re striking. Get your ginger puppet or the ex t-bags and TDs to take a hit for a change. Dope’s

@ Paul maybe twenty years ago the Unions were kings, funny how the tide turns and they are only pawns now they had it so handy, now they are struggling to keep above the water line and most unions are now on the employer side so as to keep their members in a job.

Look at the bigger picture

Unacceptable ones Jay, I saw the outline passed out to public servants. Broad sweeping demands with no details or analysis about the impact to the public. Its almost like they’re sabotaging the deal and hoping for everyone to remain docile, relying on the public/private sector devide to get away with it.

This government are simply a debt collection agency for debts that aren’t ours. Hence bilderberg noonan and puppetboy kennys actions thus far. They’ll push as hard as they can to recoup as much money for bondholders as quickly as possible, no matter the cost to our society.

I

As usuall werejammin you rant about the bondholders but shy away fron the issue of te 20billion per year the country is running in the red bond holder money wont sort that well it will but only for about 2 years then what??? Keep running a deficit untill we go under to the tune of a trillion. Cuts need to be made i dont belive gardai are where to start the cuts but untill ive evidence that what was tabled was unreasonable ill reserve my judgment on it

Jay, our defect last year was 18 billion, including the cost of our banking debt which was 18 billion for the year.

Would you like to borrow an abacus?

Links to this info please and

From a reliable website

Exactly!! Even Bertie has a garda sitting at his house 24/7, they want protection from the very people they’re robbing. If they were a decent crowd they wouldn’t be living in fear and in need of protection. Anyone who thinks they’re well paid, have you ever asked a garda what they get? No, you just other moans who haven’t a clue. Its shocking how ungrateful people can be.

Just listen to other moans**

Thats the aim of these propagandist soundbites – keep the public distracted while we make like bandits with taxpayers money – the more we divide ye the more we can impoverish ye

man that’s two cue-ball’s, let’s not confuse things.. Moe needs a different name..

All the government want I’d more public V Private sector the majority of the public sector work hard and the pay ain’t great everything we got in the in the boom had been giving back and more besides. Were married to many people who lost there jobs. And scrape by like most. If the government want us to work harder we already are and many understand that we need to work longer but there’s little point until the management of the public sector reformed . If the government wamy bigger cut they most lead withlarge pay cuts to themselfs abolish the upper house and deduce the dail by at least 40TD

and so have people in the public sector. why do we fall into the trap of public v private sector. we are all in the pit together. let brendan howlin, etc, survive on my wage before they go cut mine again.

Not really Paddy. I don’t like the attempts to divide us either, but it’s certainly not the case that we are all in the same boat.

@paddy- people in the private sector would take quite significant cuts in exchange for the job security you have.

Think of Ireland as a company? Ok so. Companies don’t pay people to do nothing, so unemployment benefits gone. Companies don’t spend money on things that don’t make profits for them, so bang goes the health service and the prison service… Now where else should we take this ridiculous comparison?

Spoken like a true civil servant Ciaran…..

No Shaun I won’t!! Because we are a country made up of people, not a company focusing only in the bottom line.

The mindset/ the manipulated mindset

@ciaran- in the UK the Private Sector successfully and profitably runs both prisons and hospitals- and far more efficiently than the NHS and NPS. So your point was….?

And you know everybody in both sectors Vin!

Divide & conquer the people,, always works, tested and trusted method of control, works every time too!!

Vincent explain how they run prisons profitably. They run prisons at a price, paid for by the government. The government makes no money from it. Those from Shaun’s way of thinking they should stop paying for it. Keep up vinny….

Charlie you speak like someone who depends on the state for nothing at all. I hope you stick to those principles when it comes to child benefit and tax credits – state makes no profit from them either – axed…

@ciaran- what Shaun was saying that if the same norms and best practices in place in the private sector were observed in the public sector it would be a whole lot more efficient.

“Think or Ireland as a company”

Shaun, a company is run primarily for profit, a country is run for the good of its citizens. Your comparison is usually thrown out by the type of people who have us in the mess we’re in.

What job security? You know nothing! Almost 45% of teachers are part time,without the full benefits of full time employees. Stop talking out of your arse and spouting the indos propaganda

Vincent, when I worked as a part time cashier in Dunnes stores I made more than an average Garda. Their jobs might be secure enough but what does that matter? Basically they’re stuck in an underpaid job that doesn’t pay the mortgage or bills, who wants to be guaranteed that for life?! Why does everyone wrongly assume all of the public sector are highly paid?! Do you ever ask people with regular jobs who aren’t at the top? And Gardai deserve more than someone who stands at a till scanning things all day, it’s the most boring, unchallenging job with no risks involved whatsoever, so how is it fair to pay someone like that more? People who risk their lives to save others should be paid accordingly. Pick on the TDs and insist they take ridiculous cuts that mean they can’t live instead of the heroes. It’s the upperclass scrotes and the bottom of the bottom class scrotes who all have money thrown at them for sitting on their arses. I’m private sector, my job is secure, easy, money is better than the average public sector worker, so I wouldn’t take any cuts for their ‘security’.

When your pay has already been cut by 17% and once guaranteed overtime evaporates you quickly go from reasonably comfortable to struggling. I know of Guards having to sleep overnight in stations as they cant afford the petrol to drive home. The Gardai have willingly given their share and then some. These further cuts will be fought. Its gonna get dirty.

Stephen,
you say the pay is incredible even before all the allowances and overtime. Well guess what, so is the tax.

Most public servants are paying in the region of 52 to 54% tax when they include the PRSI, PAYE, USC, and then that “fantastic” pension that the private sector keep giving out about? Well every week there are three deductions taken from wages for the one pension, which by the time most public servants will retire in the future will be worthless. and I’m sure they’re being taxed with other deductions I don’t know about

I personally know three Gardai that have qualified for medical cards or GP visit cards. You DON’T get them unless you are practically broke. So cut the bullshit

I meant so say they pay the higher rate of PRSI PAYE etc, I know everyone pays that anyhow.

I agree Falstaff….. In order to be Paying 54% tax you’d be earning 9K a month before tax… I think they might be able to live on the 5K a month their getting… Thats the quivelent of two wages coming into a household of private sector workers…. You can see why we have a problem including you in our boat… Cant you?

Incredible how much?

Find a Garda on 5k a month BEFORE tax etc, and I’ll hand you 100k Charlie.

and give them all the same size uniforms – they do that already you say?

!

Public servants aren’t earning 2008 wages! Tax increases & pay cuts of upto 25% and have been made since then. Please do some research before posting inaccurate comments on here.

The government is not broke emmet. It regularly hands out in a single day to unsecured bondholders what its hoping to save in additional cuts in the public service over the next 3 YEARS. Thats the equivalent of landing additional suffering on 200,000 people on less than the average industrial wage for the next 3 years, for each single billion euro payout.

Completely wrong

actually we’ve been doing that for quite a number of years…. :/

Everyone must make sacrifices (not just Gardai). This would eliminate any need for a property tax and water charges.

It can, and they frequently do, through collecting taxes, selling bonds etc, granted Irelands current position is pretty exceptional, or perverse, whatever way you look at it, we should be able to afford adequate policing. It’s a question of priorities

Having said that, I’m sure top Garda, much like in every other sector, are probably making too much relative to rank and file

Everybody mark, like our former leader and cronies, who have whopper pensions ( Bertie 150 k per year) and said they would take cuts, did they No!

Like the bank exe, still being paid huge sums, most them still employed made huge sums from my back and yours and your kids

Or like the top dogs in semi states, have they taken cuts, No

Or our current lot who claim cuts, but spend and claim more now!

I could go on, but can just list which area of society are paying?

Here’s a clue, they make the laws/rules

And spare me the free vote crap, if your options are the same regardless of what name is on the ballot! Well that ain’t a free vote

Wake up

^^
Mark means everyone except those who you mention. These cuts are only for the already squeezed middle class now the working poor. STRIKE

Tell that to the overpaid politicians and top civil servants

I laugh at the crap you come out with..why doesn’t enda take I cut?

100% agree with you on that one, and Ireland has nothing to give its bankrupt and now owned by Germany, will we ever get it back not likely

And then get a job driving a taxi. It’s a great deal!

Mitch you should do some research into guards having heart attacks shortly after they retire due to the stress of their job and working patterns. And aoife shut your face!!

And have it for the next 20+ yrs as well !!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

@karolyn come back and comment when you get a bit of class and manners. I’m sure your mother taught you better than than to insult people you don’t even know.

@aoife hypocritical much? Go wash your mouth out with soap cause nothing but dirt comes out if it! The red thumbs speak for themselves x

It’s illegal to do blue flu! Guards can’t strike. Do your research!

That wont happen again watch ……………………………………..

I didn’t mention strike. I said blue flu.

Blue flu is a strike you gobsh!te, what did you think it was? An actual flu?

Your a keeper sweetcheeks. Feisty one you are. You say blue flu is a strike and that’s true. So you saying it was illegal to strike in may 98. Every man woman and child was held to ransom in this country. Disgraceful.

The blue flu technically wasn’t a strike. It was when Gardai called in sick. Gardai aren’t allowed to strike but everyone, private sector or public sector, can get sick.

Thank you for clearing that up for us.

You are an idiot.

An absolute idiot !!

Owen@ i agree with you 100% there are lots of people that have left to work in the uk that have family’s here but needs must.

Declan@ when they took on the job they knew then what it entailed, you have to take the rough with the smooth, at the moment its the rough get over it other people have to.

Owen if you can travel over and back to england every two weeks youre doing alright.

Isn’t well for ye , must be flush able to travel home every fortnight

@ridiculous are they not entitled to eat no?

Yes you are?

At least you chose a name appropriate for yourself….

Toby would you do their job? I know I wouldn’t, not if they paid me double what they get now. I know a lot of the work they do is relatively easy but they never know when they are called out on a 999 what they will face.

I tink by all ur negative comments about gardai and the fack they should get over the pay cuts what would happen if they walk away altogether and leave ye mind yourselves would that suit ye.

Marshal law ha

until you need them, and they can’t respond as their numbers have been cut or they don’t have a patrol car as is the case in many area’s, then you’ll have a little sympathy.

Declan. I would do their job if I had an Uncle or a relation to get me in like the majority of them do.

Stop trolling Toby

Fair play to you Toby, you’re a better man than me. I’ld much rather be in a job where I know I am fairly safe, not in one where my next callout could result in me being stabbed or physically assaulted for doing my job. We all know the obnoxious lazy cop who wouldn’t get out of their own way, you’ll find them in every job, but the vast majority are decent hardworking people out to do a good job. I for one am grateful for them.

Toby Parker. You are obviously one of the ones that didn’t make the cut with the Garda entrance exam and blame that on the fact that you assume someone’s uncle got them into the job?!

Either that or you thought to yourself that garda pay was crap when everybody in the private sector was making 2-3 times more than they were.

Not so long ago when Gardai were recruiting people would be heard saying ” Join the Garda, sure the money is peanuts”

A lot of people joined the Gardai for 2 reasons. 1) Job security or 2) they felt that it was the only job they could see themselves doing.

Now people like you want gardai to take a pay cut because you feel aggrieved by the fact that Gardai have relatively stable jobs.

I hate resentful, narrow minded people like you. You can see it in your posts.

A bit bitter toby by any chance?
There are a few gobsh1tes in the guards that if they did have a uncle or relation to speak up maybe the force would have been saved a few embarrassing moments.
But they’re in every job, as is the aunt and uncle.
Get over it

Dermot. A lot of people entered the Gardai because it was a job for life I will grant you that but a lot of people joined the Gardai for the power trip and the ability to look down their noses on other. It is very funny really. People that swear to uphold the law, actually acting outside of it on many occasions.
You were the Govts henchmen when they needed you. You didn’t give one iota of a damn for the constitution or for the rights of anyone except those that paid your wages. How many cover ups were made for politicians or people of influence by the Gardai? More than one?
Now the Govt don’t need as many of their little doggies any more and are reducing numbers. The meal ticket and the power trip is coming to an end.
Enjoy it while it lasts and please don’t ever think for one second that anyone considers you heroes or even actual Peace Keepers because you are not, you are policy enforcers in blue suits for a corrupt Govt that thinks nothing of you.

Sorry Toby don’t dare to speak for me. I do consider the majority of them as heros.

Your showing your true colours there Toby! why did you assume I am a Garda? I am in fact not but do have a lot of respect for them and what they do.

Toby.
Time for bed. School tomorrow. There’s a good lad. Nite nite.

Glass Half Full. Night night. Best of luck in Croke Park. LOL. You’ll need it.

Up the Banner!

Twas in the year of 95, in the middle of July. All of Munster suffered sunstroke and the grass was all burnt dry….

Sorry, I’m getting emotional and aroused at the same time now

pardon?!

I wouldn’t get into it with the ignorant and stupid Paddy. Let all the begrudgers and moaners walk a mile in an AVERAGE FRONTLINE public servants shoes and let them see who deserves pay. Interestingly a lot of people who say we can’t spend money we don’t have…the US in the 1930s, Roosevelt spent everything the US had in keeping the frontline and the future of the US safe, clement Attlee established the welfare state in the UK in 1947 to protect the PEOPLE and to hell with the finances. Get real people, what’s more important money in a ledger or people’s lives?

@gerry,obviously the money in the ledger is more important than a life not my opinion however but seems to be accepted as will the red thumbs will show “cash over life”

Agreed Paddy. The country doesn’t have the money – until the banks need it. We are a capitalist society – until the banks are about to go bust – then their mistakes become ours. We get the balance sheets waved in our faces as some excuse for the pilaging of the livelihoods and lowering of standards of living (and any expectation of such). The bottom line is not really the bottom line!

What do u consider a fair days work in the emergency services? Just curious.

A fair days work for a fair days pay?

What does that mean?

If there is a bank robbery and the gardai catch the offenders, are you saying they should get a bonus?

What if they don’t catch the offenders? Are you saying the guards shouldn’t be paid?

If a fireman doesn’t get to one on time, should he not be paid?

Public servants on the front line are responders. Firemen, doctors nurses army gardai. They can’t make things happen, they respond to situations. So how do you justify a fair days work?

They new what they signed up for when joining get on with the job ……………………………………….!

Exactly iconnect they “new” what they signed up for. The allowances were part of what they signed up for. Our esteemed former politicians won’t take a cut in their pensions, according to Vincent Browne last night, because they had a “responsible expectation” of getting that level of pension. Go after them first.

“Reasonable expectation”. You can see it here in case you missed it. http://www.tv3.ie/3player/mobile/41/58432/

It’s part of the job they signed up for it can’t be all about allowances, I don’t know what a fair wage would be il leave that to their reps and unions to trash out in croke park 11

I was 17 when I signed up,only out off school,my hole did myself or any other lad that was with me knowingly put their name to paper thinking they be screwed 20 yrs down the line.

And I’m sure they find you to be a pleasant charming and respectful young man.

LOL i am sure the Reserves wont have a problem either should it come to that, after all thats what they are there for to step into the breech just like the army done for the fire strike or the petrol strikes, or even the bus and bin strikes. people always seem to forget there is always someone to do your job, remember the number on your pay packet well that is all you are to any employer, replaceable by another number :)

PDFORA the army reps stated quite clearly that if the Fire fighters go on strike that they will NOT provide cover, Try a country with no fire ,police or ambulance cover and maybe the keypad heroesion here might realise that frontline workers are not overpaid layabouts

Those who knock emergency workers on here would NOT have the BALLS to do the job of Firefighters / Garda/ Paramedics/ Nurses or Prison officers

@Michael All said before, was said about the bus strike and the bin strike, as they say the pen is mightier than the sword.

People looking for promotion will be the first across the lines to take up position, they know which side their bread is buttered.