Gardaí attack GSOC powers in new bill 

AGSI general secretary Antoinette Cunningham said some of her members have had their lives 'turned upside down with their reputations destroyed', waiting for as long as five years for GSOC to conclude investigations where no wrongdoing was found. File picture: Don MacMonagle

Bodies representing the bulk of gardaí and Garda civil servants have strongly criticised landmark proposed legislation that aims to radically alter policing, Garda structures and oversight.

Addressing the Oireachtas Justice Committee, the association representing senior gardaí at the rank of superintendent said they had “grave concerns” about “politicisation” of the force, with the creation of a new internal Garda board.