Union calls on Minister for talks on proposed changes to Garda support staff recruitment

• Author: Emmet Malone
• Published date: 23 November 2022
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

On Tuesday, Helen McEntee received support at Cabinet to press ahead with the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which she said would "build on the achievements of An Garda Síochána and strengthen the organisation for the demands of the coming decades"

The Bill contains a wide range of changes to the way the force is managed but the union is concerned at the proposals it contains for An Garda Síochána to directly recruit for roles currently performed by civil servants.

The union said the move would cut those staff off from the Civil Service, severely limiting their promotional opportunities, and potentially subjecting them to more onerous terms of employment.

The Fórsa assistant general secretary with responsibility for the sector, Jim Mitchell, said the union was surprised no engagement took place before the Bill went to Cabinet this week despite its request for a meeting with the Minister.

A key concern, he suggested, is to obtain clarity regarding existing staff who, he said do not want to become "landlocked" in An Garda Síochána having joined the much wider Civil Service.

"There is no clarity as to what is going to happen with existing staff," he said.

"And the reality is that if people wanted to be a Garda they would have applied to be a Garda. As it is, they are generally very happy to work with the force but it is as part of their wider life cycle around the Civil Service.

"There are already problems because of these proposed changes. Since November 3rd, we have been notified that Garda management has put a freeze on people transferring out of the service there because they have been having difficulties...