More Garda Protests Planned For The Summer Months

Tuesday, 4 April 2023 15:26

By Caoimhe Harney

Gardaí say they cannot guarantee policing for visits after Joe Biden's

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has announced a significant escalation in its dispute with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on the issue of rosters.

Sergeants and Inspectors are to engage in four more protests marches in May, June, July and August.

The middle-ranking Gardaí will march on Dáil Éireann, the Department of Justice and Garda Headquarters, where more than 100 members protested last month.

They say they will police the forthcoming visit by the US president Joe Biden but "under protest" and will give no guarantees as regards the policing of any other forthcoming visits by dignitaries to Ireland.

The AGSI also says if the Garda Commissioner does not then agree to what it says are meaningful negotiations on the disputed rosters issue, individual sergeants and inspectors will take part in so called 'blue flu' action, whereby they will withdraw their labour in particular garda departments on particular days.

The Garda Commissioner has withdrawn a directive to gardaí on gender identity in the workplace.

AGSI had criticised the directive relating to the rights of people who are transitioning because it had been introduced without consultation or training.

Mr Harris had said that gardaí who used the wrong gender when addressing a person may be disciplined.

The commissioner withdrew the directive this morning and is due to address the conference this afternoon.