Garda Síochána (Associations) Regulations, 1978

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 135/1978
• Year: 1978

I, GERARD COLLINS, Minister for Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 13 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924 (No. 25 of 1924), as amended by the Garda Síochána Act, 1977 (No. 24 of 1977), and section 14 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 (No. 7 of 1925), hereby with the approval of the Government, make the following regulations: 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Garda Síochána (Associations) Regulations, 1978. 2. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to these Regulations. 3. In these Regulations—

"district" has the meaning assigned to it by the Garda Síochána (Designations, Appointments and Discipline) Regulations, 1924;

"division" has the meaning assigned to it by the Garda Síochána (Designations, Appointments and Discipline) Regulations, 1924;

"Representative Body" means a Representative Body which was elected in accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána (Representative Bodies) Regulations, 1962 ( S.I. No. 64 of 1962 ), as amended, and which holds office at the making of these Regulations. 4. (1) An association to be known as the Garda Representative Association is hereby established for the purpose of representing members of the Garda Síochána holding the rank of Garda in all matters affecting their welfare and efficiency.

(2) The provisions of the First Schedule to these Regulations shall apply to the Association. 5. (1) An association to be known as the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors is hereby established for the purpose of representing members of the Garda Síochána holding the rank of Sergeant, Station Sergeant or Inspector in all matters affecting their welfare and efficiency.

(2) The provisions of the Second Schedule to these Regulations shall apply to the Association. 6. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the Associations established pursuant to Regulations 4 and 5 of these Regulations may conduct their own affairs in accordance with a Constitution or Rules made by the Associations. 7. (1) The elections of members of each district committee, of members of each regional committee and of members of the Central Executive Committee of the Garda Representative Association shall be held in the year 1978 as soon as may be after the making of these Regulations and every subsequent election shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the First Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) The elections of members of each branch committee and of members of the National Executive of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors shall be held in the year 1978 as soon as may be after the making of these Regulations and every subsequent election shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Second Schedule to these Regulations. 8. (1) For the purposes of the elections to be held pursuant to these Regulations in the year 1978, every person who holds the rank of Garda may excercise the powers which the provisions of the First Schedule confer on a member of the Association for that rank and every person who holds the rank of Sergeant, Station Sergeant or Inspector may exercise the powers which the provisions of the Second Schedule to these Regulations confer on a member of the Association for those ranks.

(2) Until such time as the first election pursuant to these Regulations of the members of the Central Executive Committee of the Garda Representative Association has been completed, the Representative Body for that rank shall be deemed to be the Association established pursuant to these Regulations and shall be entitled to exercise the powers and functions which the provisions of these Regulations confer on the Central Executive Committee of the Association.

(3) Until such time as the first election pursuant to these Regulations of the members of the National Executive of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has been completed, the Representative Body for those ranks shall be deemed to be the Association established pursuant to these Regulations and shall be entitled to exercise the powers and functions which the provisions of these Regulations confer on the National Executive of the Association.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Garda Representative Association.

The Association

1. (1) The Association shall be known as the Garda Representative Association.

(2) Subject to any conditions that may be determined by the Association, membership of the Association shall be open to all members of the Garda Síochána who hold the rank of Garda.

Management

2. The management of the Association shall be vested in

( a ) Annual or Special Conferences, and

( b ) a Central Executive Committee.

District Organisation

3. (1) For the purposes of this Article—

( a ) any section, or group of sections, of Garda Headquarters, as may be determined by the Central Executive Committee, shall be deemed to be a district;

( b ) the Garda Training Centre in the County of Tipperary shall be deemed to be a district; and

( c ) the Central Detective Unit and the Special Detective Unit shall together be deemed to be a district.

(2) The members of a district shall be the members of the Association permanently assigned to the district, but, for the purposes of paragraphs (3), (4) and (7) of this Article, shall not include, in respect of the Training Centre, Gardaí in training at the Centre.

(3) An Annual General Meeting of the members of each district shall be held as soon as may be in the year 1978 and thereafter in the month of January each year.

(4) Special general meetings of the members of a district shall be held whenever the district committee deem it necessary.

(5) The affairs of the Association in the district shall be conducted by a district committee in accordance with the policy of the Association.

(6) Each district committee shall be elected by written secret ballot of members of the district in the month of April in every third year after 1978. The manner in which the ballot, including nominations, is conducted shall be subject to the approval of the Central Executive Committee.

(7) The number of members of a district committee shall be equal to the number of members of the district divided by 25 (a fraction being rounded up) subject to a minimum of five and a maximum of nine.

(8) Each district committee shall elect from among its members a chairman and a secretary.

(9) A member of a district committee shall cease to hold office on his ceasing to be a member of the...