Garda Representative Association calls for priority PCR Covid testing for gardaí
A Garda Representative Association spokesman has complained that previous calls for priority booster vaccinations and access to priority PCR testing for gardaí were "ignored". File Picture: Dan Linehan
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has warned that the force is still seeing significant numbers of staff absent from work because of Covid-19 and called for priority PCR testing for gardaí.
Vice President of the GRA, Brendan O'Connor, said that the pandemic was having an impact on the force either because people were infected or were close contacts.
"We're back to the old style, fewer people expected to do more so it's an added burden on our members.
"It's just a fact that units are stripped down so we have less people parading for duty so there may be the same number of calls coming in and there's just less people to do them," he told .
"So people might be traveling further distances to deal with matters and we also have colleagues who may be unrested having to come in to backfill vacancies."
According to the GRA, there are 1,100 fewer gardaí available to work than just two weeks ago.
Mr O'Connor said that gardaí, like many workforces, were in the position of trying to deliver services with fewer staff which had the effect of putting more pressure on those still in place providing that service.
He said that his members were concerned about comments by garda management on the resilience of the force.
"We have been flagging the need for resilience, we asked for our membership to be prioritised in the original vaccination programme, our calls fell on deaf ears, in early December when senior management were planning and could see what was on the horizon, our members had their leave reduced, but there was no mention of supporting us to get priority boosting, or now for PCR tests - there's no priority testing for gardaí," he said.
“Our members feel it is quite inappropriate that they would be put at significant risk or at additional risk by reducing the isolation period when they are close contacts, coming into stations, creating the risk of spreading more of this virus and having more absenteeism - that's something we would be very concerned about.”
Over the weekend it was confirmed that gardaí would be provided with antigen tests for use before starting their tour of duty as part of efforts to protect against the impact of the Omicron variant.
While the tests are provided free of charge, their use is voluntary and it is not a requirement to carry one out.
The Garda Press Office has confirmed that “in line with the trend among the general population, the current impact of Covid-19 is more significant at this time.”
It is believed that the kits will be provided for each working day to allow them to carry out the test immediately prior to going into work.
It is understood that a number of divisions have also been advised to not use kitchen or canteen facilities, in an effort to prevent congregating, and in some instances this will mean that gardaí will have to eat in patrol cars.
Other advice is to always wear masks in all locations where social distancing cannot be maintained, including patrol cars.
Echoing Brendan O'Connor's remarks, GRA interim general secretary Philip McAnenly said that while the association welcomed the “sudden availability of these antigen tests, it feels like we are slamming the door after the horse has already bolted”.
“Over the last few weeks, we have been demanding priority booster vaccinations and access to priority PCR testing, but again, our calls have been ignored," he said.
“There are now over 1,100 less gardaí available for duty than just over two weeks ago, and we believe that many of these cases could have been avoided, had a proper and appropriate booster vaccination and PCR testing scheme been made available to our members.”
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