Garda strike: ‘Gravity of situation lost on politicians’
Mid-rank gardaí, numbering some 2,000, are joining frontline gardaí, numbering 10,500, in withdrawing their labour on four Fridays next month.
“The debate so far has been around the rights and wrongs of strike action,” said one senior garda. “That’s fine, but the reality is we will have, effectively, no gardaí on those Fridays. I don’t think the public have grasped that and politicians don’t realise the gravity of it.”
Fridays are one of the worst days for traffic accidents and public order problems and assaults. On top of that, with Garda stations closed around the country, and limited numbers on patrol or on the beat, burglaries, robberies and possibly shootings will result. One prime concern is gangland violence, not least from the Kinahan-Hutch feud.
“It will be manna from heaven for them,” said one source.
The fact that the ERU will be operational will assist, but they can’t be everywhere. Some sources estimate that roughly 400 gardaí take part in Operation Hybrid, targeting the feud, every day.
So, what are the chances of a resolution of the disputes?
It’s clear, from AGSI at least, that they are open to a decent response from Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.
If she provides specifics on garda access to industrial relations and pay mechanisms she is half way there.
The problem is the remaining half: Some specifics and timeframe on pay. That may require the Taoiseach’s intervention.
It will come down to protecting public pay or protecting public safety.
However, the clock is ticking.
READ MORE: Garda strikes: Worries over road safety, assaults, and possible gangland feud murder
