A group representing Garda sergeants and inspectors has hit out at a newly proposed policy which would see officers forced to use transgender pronouns on pain of disciplinary action.
The comments were made on Monday this week ahead of the 45th annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
As revealed last month by Gript, a Garda policy has been formulated around “Gender Identity In The Workplace,” which would see officers required to use a person’s preferred transgender pronouns – for example, referring to a biological male as “she” and “her” at the person’s request.
The wording of the new plan says that “strict compliance” with the policy is required of all Garda staff.
When asked by Gript if Garda officers could be punished for refusing to use a person’s preferred pronouns, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris replied that “There’d be a management response, and that could escalate as far as discipline.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris tells Gript that if Garda officers use the wrong gender pronouns, it could "escalate" to disciplinary action. pic.twitter.com/EXElEEISx1
— gript (@griptmedia) March 28, 2023
Reacting to the news, AGSI General Secretary Antoinette Cunningham slammed the Commissioner’s comments, and called for the policy to be reversed.
“AGSI have also raised serious concerns with the internal consultation process and will be seeking formal withdrawal of the recent directive on gender identity in the workplace, owing to the lack of consultation and awareness,” she said.
“Especially in light of the recent comments by the Garda Commissioner that the misgendering of a person cold lead to discipline.”
Cunningham acknowledged “the rights of people to transition and be supported in doing so by workplace colleagues.” However, she added that it was “unfair” that there had been no awareness programme for officers before this policy was rolled out.
“And even more unfair is the threat of discipline hanging over us if we are misguided due to lack of education,” she said.
“There are a large number of people in the Garda organisation who are not aware of the rights and entitlement of people who want to transition and how on a practical day basis they can be supported in the workplace.”