Roster dispute not the sole reason for no-confidence vote in Drew Harris — GRA

GRA President Brendan O’Connor said his organisation had seen a 'deterioration' in its relationship with the Commissioner in recent years.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said the ongoing roster dispute was not the sole reason behind its holding of a no-confidence vote in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

GRA president Brendan O’Connor said his organisation had seen a “deterioration” in its relationship with the Commissioner in recent years.

“Our members have become very unsatisfied with a lot of things that are happening in the job, through their voice wasn't being heard. We were being dismissed,” Mr O’Connor said.

He said the GRA had deferred motions of no confidence at last year's AGM, “so the writing was on the wall that there was serious problems emerging”.

He also said the problems “simmering under the surface” were always likely to “boil over” despite the insistence of the Commissioner and Justice Minister Helen McEntee there were no morale issues in An Garda Síochána.

At the weekend, Ms McEntee said she would not be intervening in the row, saying it was not her role to direct An Garda Síochána members as to where and when and how they should work.

Asked whether the dispute had now become personal, Mr O’Connor said it had not, but it had become “very entrenched”, with some of the commentary surrounding the issue leading to “irreparable damage to the relationship between the members, and by default, the workforce and the leader”. 

'No element of sectarianism'

Mr O’Connor went on to say there was “absolutely no element of sectarianism” involved in the dispute.

"Our members serve with distinction. We have a very ecumenical, inclusive society. There is no element of sectarianism in An Garda Síochána and amongst members out there.” 

He said the GRA was “a very progressive organisation” which had welcomed the appointment of Drew Harris to the post of Garda Commissioner.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Picture: RollingNews.ie

"We welcomed a new, fresh set of eyes. We had great hopes for the Commission on Policing Report, that a new dawn in policing would emerge.

"And that is what has led to the frustration of our members because what’s materialised has actually been the denigration of the organisation.” 

Voluntary overtime refusal

On each Tuesday of this month — days on which on Budget Day and Halloween fall — GRA members are planning to refuse to take voluntary overtime.

Mr O’Connor told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland the refusals were happening because GRA members feel as though they “have no voice”. 

However, he said GRA members, if directed to take overtime on Budget Day or another Tuesday in October, “will have to obviously comply with the lawful direction”, though he did express concerns about the availability within the pool of GRA members to provide overtime.

“We have a working time agreement where people have mandatory rest periods which dictate when they can't be deployed. If you've deployed members to Dublin City and take them from outside the city, there has to be travel arrangements and there has to be transport put in place,” he said.

Our members are entitled to the same rights of employment and conditions as any other worker and rest periods, and we won't allow them to be abused because those protections are there.” 

Mr O’Connor reiterated the GRA would not return to the negotiating table unless there was a withdrawal of the implementation of the old roster on November 6.