More meetings today in bid to avert national policing crisis

Further crunch meetings are being held today in a bid to avert a national policing crisis in seven days time — after a lack of progress so far this week.

Anxiety is mounting in Garda Headquarters, where police chiefs have been holding off finalising a contingency plan in the expectation that the status of the talks would be clear by today — either to indicate a breakthrough or that they had broken down.

As it stands, Garda HQ has less than a week to negotiate emergency cover with the two associations.

Up to 12,500 frontline and mid-ranking gardaí are due to withdraw their labour for 24 hours on four successive Fridays in November (4, 11, 18, and 25).

Last night, the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors confirmed that its second day of industrial action — involving a complete ban on all administrative work — will go ahead today.

This followed further talks yesterday with the Department of Justice, which ended with “no agreement”.

Members of the national executive committee of the AGSI, which represents 2,000 mid-ranking officers, will meet this morning.

AGSI leaders will update the executive on the talks and sources said decisions will be made regarding both negotiations and dealings with Garda management.

The AGSI had lodged a 16.5% pay claim in their talks with the Department of Justice and want immediate access to industrial relations mechanisms. Sources said they want a legislative timeframe to implement government commitments on negotiation rights.

In a statement last night, AGSI said today’s action would proceed.

“AGSI members will refuse to use the Garda IT system PULSE as well as refusing to undertake administrative duties such as detailing members for duty, processing files, or responding to correspondence from management in relation to returns or other matters,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the Garda Representative Association, with more than 10,000 frontline members, will continue talks with the Department of Justice this morning after no breakthrough made in negotiations on Tuesday.

The central executive committee of the GRA met yesterday afternoon, with members updated on the talks but informed that there was no change in the situation.

In the meantime, the GRA has circulated artwork for placards for any protests by GRA members, delegates, or leaders on strike days.

The slogans include: “Gardaí On The Streets — But Not Like This”; “Gardaí Denied Their Civil Rights”; and “Pay Gardaí A Fair Wage”.

It is not yet known where protests will be held, but sources stressed that “absolutely no pickets” will be conducted.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan yesterday held a scheduled private meeting with the Policing Authority where industrial relations were discussed.

“The commissioner briefed authority members on contingency plans being formulated by the Garda Síochána,” the authority said in a statement.

Given discussions between the parties were ongoing, it said it did not want to comment further.

“The authority is being kept advised as the situation develops and encourages all parties to remain engaged so that the discussions can come to a successful conclusion in the interests of the community,” it said.