New graduates from the Garda College in Templemore will earn just €23,171 before tax, almost €8,000 less than the last graduates of the Co Tipperary institution in 2009.

Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh called for their pay rates and conditions to be re-examined. Speaking during the Seanad Order of Business, he said a new recruit expressed to him “huge concerns about the pay and conditions he is expected to work under”.

The Galway Senator said “when the new recruits graduate they will only be earning €23,171 before tax is deducted, but the last group of recruits who graduated in 2009, were paid approximately €31,000”.

The pay and conditions of new gardaí and “how they can be expected to survive on the amount they are paid is an issue that should be examined”.

A number of Senators praised members of the force who had recovered almost €1 million in jewellery which was stolen from a jewellery shop on William Street in Galway, and arrested four men.

Real reminder

Independent Feargal Quinn said their actions were a “real reminder of the work An Garda Síochána” do.

Fianna Fáil’s Paschal Mooney said there had been a “deafening silence” from the Government on Garda salaries. “Here we are, congratulating gardaí for taking their lives in their hands – for €23,000. That is a scandal, and one that needs to be addressed in a budgetary framework.”

Praising the gardaí involved, Fianna Fáil’s Terry Leyden said “the unarmed force apprehended four eastern European gangsters who were armed with hammers and what turned out to be a false gun, although the gardaí in question were not to know this”.

Fine Gael’s Cáit Keane said there had been much criticism recently of An Garda Síochána “but it is a priceless force”.