Government approves Garda rest-break law after High Court challenge

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Cabinet approved heads of a bill removing Gardaí’s blanket exclusion from working-time protections, while the High Court challenge did not proceed, as reported on 30 November 2016.

The challenge was brought by Limerick-based Gardaí John Gaine and Padraig Harrington, who said they worked eight-hour witness-protection shifts without rest or meal breaks between October 2010 and January 2011.

They also claimed they were not paid overtime for breaks they said should have been provided, and sought declarations and damages against the Garda Commissioner, Ireland and the Attorney General.

The proposed legislation was intended to bring Irish law into line with European Union working-time rules, subject to legally permitted derogations.