The Garda Representative Association (GRA) will be driving ahead with a vote of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, even after meeting with him today.
The vote will see ballots sent out over the coming days, allowing the GRA’s 11,000 Garda members to vote on whether or not they have confidence in Harris’ leadership – an unprecedented situation. While not legally-binding, a negative result would be embarrassing for the Commissioner and damage his credibility.
The main reason for the vote being called is a dispute over Garda rosters, which Harris has sought to return to pre-Covid arrangements. The GRA says this will have a variety of negative effects, such as seeing 20% less officers working at any given moment, and impacting officers’ work-life balance.
In the wake of the dispute, Harris held a meeting with the GRA this morning at the Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park. However, after an hour the GRA representatives walked out of the meeting.
Speaking to RTÉ News following the meeting, GRA Interim General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that not much progress had been made and that the group would be pressing on with the no confidence vote.
“The executive decided last week to ballot members,” he said according to RTÉ, adding: “That ballot is still going ahead.”
“On a normal shift [the pre-Covid shift pattern that Commissioner Harris wants to re-introduce] you’ll have 20% less officers working at any one time. We feel some of the services to the public will suffer as a result of this.”
The Garda Commissioner has found himself at odds with rank-and-file members repeatedly in recent months, and was jeered and heckled on stage at a GRA conference at the end of April this year when discussing the same roster issue.
Similarly, Commissioner Harris previously told Gript that if Garda officers use the wrong gender pronouns, it could “escalate” to disciplinary action under a proposed policy.
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
This plan was withdrawn after significant backlash from groups like the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
BREAKING: Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has reversed a plan to force Gardaí to use a person’s preferred gender pronouns, following significant backlash.#gripthttps://t.co/4uMvGQ6y4Y
— gript (@griptmedia) April 4, 2023
This week Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath called on Harris to resign, claiming that he has refused to listen to members of his own force or politicians.
Mattie McGrath says the Garda Commissioner has refused to listen to members of the force or politicians https://t.co/dXOiHtcMSZ via @TippFM
— Tipp FM (@TippFM) August 2, 2023
“He’s lost the dressing room as far as I’m concerned, with respect from the Gardaí and support and confidence in him,” the TD said.
As the Garda Commissioner faces a no confidence motion, there have been calls this week for Justice Minister Helen McEntee to resign over the rise of violent crime in areas like Dublin.
Ogra Fianna Fail calls on Helen McEntee to resign amid rising crime levelshttps://t.co/lv8qEmzGzf
— Irish Daily Mirror (@IrishMirror) August 1, 2023