Vote of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris expected by GRA

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is set to confirm on Wednesday morning that the majority of its members have voted no confidence in the Garda commissioner Drew Harris.

The GRA polled 10,800 of its members asking them: "Do you have confidence in the Garda Commissioner?’ Yes or No".

It is believed that the group will announce at around 11.30 this morning confirming that a majority have voted 'no'.

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.

While it has no direct consequence, any ‘no’ vote, particularly if it is sweeping, will be a blow to the commissioner - who has noted that he will not resign regardless of the vote result.

It is understood that a message was sent to all gardaí this morning from the garda senior leadership team in which they re-stated their confidence in Mr Harris.

In their message they said that there have been "many improvements" made to the force in the last five years and that from his first day, "Mr Harris has maintained the Garda's proud tradition of community-focused policing".

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.

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.

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.

Mr Harris has rejected the GRA's claims - saying the dispute could have been solved at the Workers Relations Commission (WRC).