High Garda turnout for Drew Harris no-confidence vote

The vote of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is unprecedented. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The Garda turnout in an unprecedented vote of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is expected to significantly exceed all recent ballots held by the Garda Representative Association, with the possibility of more than 80% of members responding.

The GRA polled 10,800 members with the question ‘Do you have confidence in the Garda Commissioner?’. The vote closes at 5pm today.

While none of the ballots will be opened until they are returned to independent auditors on Tuesday, a number of Garda sources are expecting a comprehensive ‘No’ vote.

It is the first time in the 100-year history of the organisation that a such a ballot has been taken of gardaí by a staff association.

Recent ballots of members by the GRA have achieved turnouts of between 45% and 55% in some cases, with the highest being around 70%.

Sources claim the current ballot will beat that and possibly go over the 80% mark.

While it has no direct consequence, any ‘no’ vote, particularly if it is sweeping, will be a blow to the commissioner and will again draw comment from the justice minister, Taoiseach, and other ministers.

It will also come against the backdrop of the sudden resignation of PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, who received a vote of no confidence from rank and file and middle-ranking police.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne resigned and had received a vote of no confidence. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

The GRA is holding a special delegate conference on September 27 where it will discuss the implications of the vote and what industrial action, if any, to take.

GRA leaders are due to publicly reveal the results of the vote at a press conference at 11.30am on Wednesday, the same day that Commissioner Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee are due to attend the annual conference of the Association of Garda Superintendents.

The GRA will inform the commissioner and the minister of the outcome of the vote before they publicly release the information.

The GRA made the decision to hold the vote on July 26 after a meeting of the association’s central executive committee.

That decision was made after Commissioner Harris announced that the pre-covid roster would be reintroduced on November 6, bringing to an end the current emergency roster.

This would mean the current 12-hour shift, worked by four units over four days, with four days off, would be replaced by the old 10-hour shift, worked by five units over six days, with four days off.

Insufficient numbers

The GRA argues that the previous agreed roster was on the basis of there being sufficient rank-and-file gardaí to fill the five shifts, and that the current numbers do not allow for that.

District and divisional officers last Friday submitted proposals to try and fill the fifth unit, which will involve pulling back gardaí temporarily assigned to specialist units into policing the frontline.

As reported in the Irish Examiner  last Friday, numerous gardaí fear the impact this will have on divisional drug units and community policing units, as well as detective units.

On Friday this week, details are expected to be sent out, detailing what numbers are being taken from these units and put back into uniform policing.

The GRA has attended — as an observer, by Zoom — meetings between Garda HQ and Garda staff associations on plans to operate the new roster, with two meetings held in recent weeks.