Nóirín O’Sullivan criticised for trip to US
Ms O’Sullivan and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald attended official events abroad this week, as talks continue to address garda demands for increased pay.
Ms O’Sullivan was accused of having “ill-judgement” yesterday and being “out of touch” in deciding to attend the chief of police conference in San Diego this week. One TD even went as far as claiming the garda chief was “sunning” herself on a junket-but later withdrew this claim.
Strike action by the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors will see potentially more than 13,000 members of the force at different times withdraw services over four days next month.
The Department of Justice maintains “no contingency plans” are in place for the strikes and that Ms Fitzgerald has not yet discussed these with Ms O’Sullivan.
However, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, whose department ultimately decides pay matters, said earlier this week contingency measures are being looked at.
Wexford TD Michael D’Arcy was one of the first yesterday to question why Ms O’Sullivan was out of the country when every effort was being made to avoid a strike. “It’s coming at a time when in a number of weeks the nation is facing the biggest strike in the history of the State.”
The AGSI will begin their action today. Mr D’Arcy said that it is “not appropriate” the garda commissioner was away the day before the action. He said there is a difference in the Justice Minister going to France on a trade trip for two days and the garda chief travelling half way around the world.
“It seems that there are no contingency plans as of now. I think the commissioner should have given it [the conference] a skip or sent one of her senior members of staff. The optics for this are terrible. The commissioner is off with three or four other people on a junket in San Diego and she should be here. It shows the error of judgement that she has made of this.”. He admitted it was a “bit unfair” that he had earlier claimed she was “sunning herself” there.
Carlow-Kilkenny TD Pat Deering said that there is a need for contingency plans.
Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesman Michael McGrath said: “I think her sole focus really should have been in Ireland, dealing with that scenario, preparing contingencies, and I think she should have been here. I think it was a poor judgement call to go.”
The Department of Justice last night said: “There has, of course, been no question of any absence by the commissioner abroad impinging in any way on the performance of the full range of her functions, both domestic and international.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
