Gardaí expected to 'undertake duties as directed' during EU presidency events

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Upcoming major EU presidency events pose “a lot of potential risks”, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has warned members.

With frontline officers planning a work-to-rule action around the events, he has told his members that he fully expects them to “undertake your duties as directed and to support this operation”.

More than 50 world leaders visit Dublin for the European Political Community summit on Thursday, followed by an informal meeting of the EU Council.

Co-ordination around the events is considered the biggest policing and security operation in the history of the State.

There is increased attention around the security events given planned industrial action and recent

bomb threats on airlines and media outlets in Ireland.

Mr Kelly told gardaí in an internal platform: “This coming week Ireland will host one of the biggest events in its history when approximately 50 heads of state visit Dublin city centre for the European Political Community – the EPC.

“Our threat and risk assessment means this will be An Garda Síochána’s biggest-ever security and policing operation.

“We have been planning for this for months and I want to thank all of you who have been working on our preparations.”

Mr Kelly said he had every confidence the policing of the events will be a success but warned: “It will not be easy.

“There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of potential risks, and many variables.”

The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which advocates on behalf of rank-and-file members, has directed its members to participate in work-to-rule action which will run between Tuesday November 10 and Saturday November 14.

There are legal prohibitions on gardaí joining trade unions and participating in a strike, with the GRA instead considered a professional association with statutory footing.

It argues that Garda management is in breach of the working-time agreement for members, including around breaks between shifts.

It made the work-to-rule direction after holding a vote of members.

Mr Kelly said: “I fully appreciate that it will also mean long hours for gardaí who are working on the EPC and the EU heads of state meeting the next day.

“This, of course, follows the hard work done during the EU presidency to date, the visit of US president Donald Trump, and on-going policing and security work.”

He thanked his gardaí for their dedication and the sacrifices they and their families have made.

“This has been an extraordinary year in terms of what has been asked of you all.

“But everywhere I go I am thanked by Government, State agencies and international policing and security services for the exemplary work done by gardaí during the EU presidency.

“This is a credit to each and every one of you.”