Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party will always be supportive of any measures to try to bring greater accountability and transparency to An Garda Síochána. While I see that there are initiatives in this Bill to try to improve the internal controls and internal governance within An Garda Síochána, it reads like this is at the expense of the external oversight. In particular, we have very grave concerns about the potential dilution of the function and role of the Policing Authority in terms of its job as the overseer of An Garda Síochána.It should not be one or the other. We need to improve the internal controls within An Garda Síochána. The Policing Authority has for a number of years been a very effective mechanism in bringing greater accountability to An Garda Síochána.

As a country, we are seeing one of the most serious crises An Garda Síochána has faced. Morale is on the floor and there is huge frustration among Garda members. It is important to note that it is the officers but also the civilian workforce who are the backbone of Garda stations across the country. I am delighted to see members of Fórsa here today.

Like Senator Gavan, I am frustrated by the manner in which the civilian workforce within An Garda Síochána has been treated in the context of the changes. I get that the Minister has an awful lot on her plate at the moment but these concerns have been articulated since February, and probably even before that. It is disappointing that the Minister and Department have not seen fit to at least engage with their representative union. Significant changes are involved in moving from a civil servant to a public servant and they have zero clarity on what that will mean. Some words have been conveyed to the effect that nothing will happen to pay and pensions, but there is no certainty for these workers with regard to mobility out of the roles they are in and into other sectors of the public service. The key issue is treating workers with respect, particularly when they face a significant change to their work status. At a minimum, it behoves the Minister to enter into the Workplace Relations Commission or to engage in a process whereby the details are worked out. We do not often hear about the challenges the civilian workforce faces because most of the debate and focus is on the officers of An Garda Síochána at this time. The civilian workforce is understaffed and under-resourced. Many of them are under enormous pressure and many are telling us they want to leave their roles because of that pressure. We need them in their roles, particularly because of the experience they have built up over many years.

My simple appeal is that there is nothing to be afraid of about engagement with the civilian workforce within An Garda Síochána but it is vital and a condition of our support for the Bill to hear there is engagement between the Minister and Fórsa on the change to their work status. To show respect to any workforce, it has to be part of the conversation. The change cannot be inflicted upon them.

While we all recognise An Garda Síochána is a command-and-control type structure by necessity in terms of day-to-day operation, there is a distinct difference when it comes to the work status of those employed. That is why we urge the Minister to engage with the civilian workforce and ensure they have clarity and certainty as to what the change to becoming public servants will mean for them.