Mr. Ronan Slevin:

As it stands, we have a retention issue, on which the Commissioner has an immediate impact as the number one person in charge. There seems to be a continuous attack on members' terms and conditions. For example, there is an intention to try to change the sickness policy in cases where members get certified as having been injured on duty. There is an attempt to reduce the number of times that certification happens. A new suspension policy that has not been agreed has also been imposed. That is again detrimental. The Commissioner can stop members' pay while they are on suspension, which is another breach of pay agreements. There is the non-application of agreed reports and the slow movement of industrial relations. Other small matters include the lack of training and a lack of appreciation for the members on the ground. It feels like any issue raised is not accepted as being an issue.

If I was asked to change these issues, the first thing is that we are short on resources. We need to stop trying to drive members out of the job. We must try to keep the ones we have and improve the conditions in order that the current members have a better outlook and portray to other members of the public that this is a desirable career for them.