Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I heard the Minister speaking earlier about Garda reform. Garda reform without Garda support is a nonsense and he must know that. I will cite a statement issued by the Garda Representative Association, GRA. It stated that Government appears to be oblivious to the right of the gardaí and the communities they police to have been consulted about the location of new divisional headquarters, HQs. In case the Minister thinks I am making that up, that was in a letter from the GRA president Jim Mulligan. It said it had no confidence in Government commitment to policing reform after the announcement of the HQ downgrades. There has been no regard whatsoever for workers who found out through the media that they could soon have a new workplace 100 miles away from home. Parts of my county are 120 miles from Ennis. "Members are also hugely concerned that the lion's share of resources will be allocated to HQs." We have a huge and excellent HQ in Thurles with great staff. Where are they going to go? We will lose between ten and 20 jobs there. GRA members fear that places furthest away will be under-resourced. We will be, because Shannon will draw the gardaí from Tipperary to police Shannon in times of war all over the world.

The GRA went on to say that Garda management has also failed to follow the requirement for engagement contained in the policing reform plan of which the Minister speaks. This is what the GRA has put in its statement. For instance, the effect of the changes on the integration of policing with public and community services cannot have been subject to consultation.

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