AGSI President Paul Curran
Speech to Deputy Garda Commissioner
Tuesday 12th April, 2022
Deputy Commissioner, National Executive, General Secretary, Colleagues, invited guests.
I wrote this speech to address the Garda Commissioner, but in his absence, I’m sure Deputy Commissioner, you will raise our issues with him.
Firstly, let me address the Commissioner’s absence. He originally accepted our invitation, but it was subsequently retracted due to a calendar clash. I would like to express the disappointment of all here at his absence from this, the most important event in the AGSI calendar.
TRAINING
In the February report to the Policing Authority the Commissioner, stated “the Omicron variant of COVID-19 caused significant challenges in terms of organisational resilience in early 2022 and challenges around the provision of training. However, in recent weeks, our resilience levels are returning to normal and training has resumed.”
It is this Association’s view that ‘normal training’ being resumed is not the case on the ground. Yesterday we expressed our deep concern to the Minister that domestic violence and other important training is being delivered solely through on line methods. This is wholly and totally unacceptable to us as an Association and in this area in particular, we seek the immediate resumption of face to face training. Can you please provide us with a timetabled schedule of planned training for our members? For some time we have been trying to get the established training working group to meet, but at every attempt it is blocked or fudged by garda management We urgently need to get back around the table to give our input on what direction training should proceed in a post-pandemic society, and we are seeking your direct and urgent intervention in this matter.
ACCOMMODATION
As you will be aware there is a major move of personnel planned from Harcourt Square to Military Road and other venues. Once again, there was a serious lack of consultation with Staff Associations on this matter.
Parking and other facilities are in Military Road completely inadequate with only 255 parking spaces and 343 official vehicles to be parked. There is no parking available for members private cars or indeed civilian Garda staff and there appears to be little planning to address this.
Several issues were raised at our last meeting in March and the response generally given was: “your concerns are noted and we will take them away”.
For a move of this scale there should be a properly structured and meaningful consultative process with all Staff Associations and unions where issues can be raised and solutions sought, this has not happened and this is not acceptable.
Harcourt Square has to be vacated by the end of 2022 and the accommodation at Military Road does not meet the requirements for all the various Bureaus who have to work there.
We are calling now for an immediate and urgent process of meaningful consultation on this matter and must say to you, that there are no guarantees of co-operation with the move from Harcourt Square to Military road unless the facilities are fit-for-purpose for our members’ needs which vary from Bureau to Bureau.
CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL
The Consultative Council was set up to facilitate Staff Associations in raising issues of concern on behalf of members. We go to Consultative Council when all other avenues fail and no resolution is found.
I am disappointed to report to members that while the Garda Commissioner did meet us in this forum in early March only approximately 50% of the agenda was discussed and the meeting was adjourned to the 16th March.
In between that date and today, we have asked 7 times for the reconvening of this meeting and have yet to receive a response. This is unacceptable and of grave concern to me and the National Executive of this Association. No one party, in our view, has the right to disregard the established IR systems within the Organisation and this leads us to ask if the Commissioner is serious about the industrial relations structure?
We are formally requesting again, in this public forum, for the date for the reconvening of this meeting and would urge the Commissioner not to become too far removed from work of this Association and its members, given that he has missed this Conference also. We do not believe a distant relationship with the Garda Commissioner is conducive to good working relations between garda Management and staff associations and we hope that this message is listened to.
OPERATING POLICING MODEL
We are deeply concerned at the budgetary priorities given to the Operating Policing Model. I wonder if this project is going to be a total failure due to a lack of budget?
The Operating Policing Model was introduced in 2018 to great fanfare. Almost four years on it has been stalled and stunted. Progress to date is behind stated targets and AGSI has anecdotal evidence concerning accommodation issues relating to its rollout.
We know from experience that no specific budget was introduced for the rollout of this Model and question why that has been the case. So, we must pose the question; ‘is it the appropriate policing model?’
Moreover, policies are being introduced with poor consultation with the staff associations which is being highlighted to us from Branch level.
RETIREMENT COURSES
The matter of pre-retirement courses was previously discussed in November at our last Annual Delegate Conference. Face-to-face courses for pre-retirement have not been organised, yet other courses can go ahead. What is the issue?
Pre-retirement training is hugely important to members who are coming to end of service, yet for over a year we have been seeking the reintroduction of this in a classroom based forum and cannot get it. While responses received that such courses are ‘planned’, no specific dates are provided, and this is unacceptable.
It is totally unacceptable the way retirees are treated after their service to An Garda Siochana. We are urgently calling on you to arrange the delivery of timetabled face-to-face training.
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
Another oversight we believe is the blatant exclusion of AGSI from Centenary Celebrations Working Group. It is regrettable that we were not invited to partake and provide valuable input on this group. This is another example of the lack of respect our members are given when developing national policy and events. We would ask you once again to revisit this decision, and to ensure that all members, plain clothes and uniform are included in Marches and other planned events.
ROSTERS
As you are aware, AGSI removed itself from the Westmanstown Roster process on March 16th. We have listened closely to our membership this morning and will meet next week to consider their views
CONCLUDING REMARKS
In conclusion Commissioner, we would like you to support our members in advocating for their welfare. If we don’t look after our people, how can we look after the public?
Thank you.
