Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Scathing of New Policing Legislation

Minister for Justice and Equality Helen McEntee to attend AGSI conference in Killarney  

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors will deliver a scathing attack of proposed new policing legislation on the first day of its annual delegate conference.   

This year, the conference will put a sharp focus on the new Policing, Security, and Community Safety Bill which AGSI says provides an array of multiple bodies with complex and ambiguous responsibilities.   

Furthermore, AGSI states that the Bill creates confusion about the actual role of the Garda Commissioner as a CEO and has the potential to have several oversight groups with different visions for the organisation.  

The three-day conference is taking place in Killarney with members coming together in person for the first time since October 2019.     

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee will attend her first Garda event today after returning from maternity leave. She will address 150 Sergeants and Inspectors this afternoon.   

President Paul Curran will deliver a strong attack on the proposed legislation which AGSI says “create more difficulties than positive reform for An Garda Síochána in its current format.”  

Mr. Curran will say that “the extended powers proposed to be granted to GSOC are without proper justification” and it is AGSI’s belief that these powers will encroach on the legal, constitutional, and privacy rights of members of AGSI who, as citizens as well as members of An Garda Síochána must be afforded their basic rights.  

Garda Commissioner Drew Harries will address delegates tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, 9 November) at 4.00pm.   

AGSI represents 2,300 Sergeants and Inspectors from 31 Branches nationwide.     

Speaking ahead of their conference at Great Southern Hotel Killarney, General Secretary Antoinette Cunningham welcomed “the opportunity to get in front of members for the first time in two years.”

It’s been an extremely trying time for our members policing COVID-19 but the business of pay and conditions of our members continued throughout.     

“We must remember that our members are still policing the pandemic and, simultaneous to this, major reforms have been happening including negotiations for a new Garda Roster, the continued implementation of the Operating Policing Model, discussions on the extension to the retirement age, and our ability to negotiate for our own pay and conditions. We look forward to raising these matters and more with the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner.”  

19 motions will be tabled over the three-day event addressing issues such as pay, training, transport, equipment as well as security and law reform.  

The conference opens at 4.00pm this afternoon (Monday, 8 November) and ends at 12.30pm on Wednesday (10 November).