Mr. Ronan Slevin:

It seems that under the system in place at the moment, we are continuously issuing policies and procedures. Under the new conduct regulations, all of those must be complied with. Any breach comes under the new conduct regulations. That means using discipline as a form of training in the absence of proper training. The Garda Síochána has had no in-person training in the past six or seven years, with the exception of driver training. Members are afraid to make a mistake because it seems that every error they make must be recorded. The recording of that is the issuing of discipline papers against an officer, sometimes for minor issues or events that are not within the control of the officer. Perhaps he or she does not have enough time to attend to the files on his or her screen. Under the new investigation management system, you are generating many jobs for each incident, each of which must be accounted for in a timely manner. Unfortunately, your tour of duty results in many incidents, and any tour of overtime results in more incidents. That is one of the issues we are encountering. People do not want to do overtime anymore because that shift will result in more work, which means more accountability and more opportunity to be disciplined if they make a mistake or fail to do something.

Over the past while, our members have experienced discipline being used as a tool to ensure that everything is done correctly and on time. The suggestion is that it is nobody else's fault but their own. They are being told that if they do not have the time to do it, they must find the time to do it. Our members are now taking home files to do on their own time. There is a fear there that any mistake is punishable. That is, unfortunately, the feeling on the ground.