Garda roster issue remains unresolved after GRA meet with commissioner
Missioner Drew (brian Harris Lawless/pa) Garda
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said it will proceed with a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Commissioner Drew Harris, saying it was “disappointed” following a meeting with the top garda.
The organisation representing rank-and-file gardaí met Mr Harris at Garda headquarters on Thursday to discuss concerns raised by members.
GRA interim general-secretary Ronan Slevin said: “While certain issues such as resources, recruitment and suspensions were raised and discussed, we are disappointed to report that the central issue regarding rosters remains unresolved.
“In fact, the commissioner reiterated his intention to revert to the pre-Covid roster in November and stated that his team have already initiated the implementation of this.
“Commissioner Harris also informed our representatives of his dissatisfaction of the GRA’s central executive committee’s decision to ballot its members on a vote of no confidence in his leadership, and questioned the intent of such a ballot.
In a statement, An Garda Siochána said they had received "no notification" of the GRA ballot, only learning of it through the media.
They saw the meeting as an opportunity to "ascertain why such an extraordinary ballot is being undertaken."
They said: "Commissioner Harris re-iterated his desire and commitment to reach a collective agreement with all Garda associations on a new roster through the State’s industrial relations dispute mechanism, the Workplace Relations Commission.
"This follows no collective agreement on a new roster after three years of direct talks between Garda management and the Garda associations.
At today’s meeting, Commissioner Harris also outlined the range of measures being taken to address other issues raised by the GRA under the organisation’s control.
"This included the recruitment of Gardaí, which sees 464 trainee Gardaí currently in the Garda College and further trainees to come, as well reducing administrative tasks for Gardaí."
The statement said that Mr Harris had already listened to feedback from gardaí in the Garda Cultural Audit, and had brought in measures that had been recommended.
These included:
- an increase in front-line supervisors at Sergeant and Inspector rank;
- over 12,000 mobility devices being provided to front-line Gardaí;
- the largest fleet of vehicles in the organisation’s history,
- increased welfare and mental health supports, and
- a new, more practical operational uniform.
The statement added: " MrHarris re-iterated to the GRA that the organisation would be reverting on November 6 2023 to the roster that was in place before the start of the covid-19 pandemic.
"This roster, the “Westmanstown roster”, had previously been agreed to by all Garda associations including the GRA."
Mr Harris has said that it is "vital that whatever Garda roster is in place serves the public and supports the most vulnerable in society, ensures the health and wellbeing of Gardaí, and allows the Commissioner to effectively and efficiently manage the organisation within the budget available.
He added that "it was clear that the covid-19 roster no longer meets those criteria."
Last Wednesday the central executive committee (CEC) of the GRA came to the decision to ballot its members.
The CEC cited what it said was the commissioner’s failure to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis and lack of appropriate training as among the issues behind the decision to hold the vote.
The GRA represents almost 12,000 rank-and-file gardaí.
The association has previously said that recruitment and retention in An Garda Síochána is unprecedented in scale.
It has also expressed concern that the Government’s year-end target of adding 1,000 new gardaí to the ranks will not be achieved.