The High Court has granted an injunction to six prison officers which prevents the Prison Officers' Association from representing them in any negotiations with the Minister for Justice in relation to a flexibility package.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan yesterday granted the injunction until the full trial of an action by the six officers against the POA on a date to be fixed. In the action, the six are seeking a new ballot on the flexibility package which POA members approved by 1,272 votes to 871 in a ballot last June.
The six officers who brought the action were Mr Maurice Doyle, Mr Eugene Garrigan, Mr Daniel Gallagher, Mr John Reddin, Mr James Byrne and Mr John Mullen. All are based at Wheatfield Prison in Dublin.
When the injunction proceedings opened on Tuesday, the judge was told that the pay element of the deal had been implemented already. Various flexibility clauses had not been implemented and it was in relation to these that the proceedings had been brought.
The officers' concerns relate to overtime, modes of salary payment, alterations to salary scales, rent allowances, duties, staff structures and other items.
The six officers claimed that a ballot on the deal was forced on with "outrageous" speed while some members were on leave, on holidays or ill and did not have an opportunity to vote.
The POA submitted that every effort was made to contact all its members in relation to the ballot, whether on or off duty, with a view to ensuring that members on leave or absent were notified.
Giving his decision, Mr Justice O'Sullivan said he was limiting his order to the six plaintiffs.