Issue Date: 28th April 2025
Please find below message from Commissioner Harris sent to all Gardaí in February 2025 following the GRA’s decision not to invite the Garda Commissioner to its annual conference for the second year in a row.
This message would have formed the basis of the Commissioner’s speech to the annual GRA conference. The Commissioner’s speech is usually then followed by a Question and Answer session with GRA delegates
To Members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA):
Regrettably, the Central Executive Committee of the Garda Representative Association has decided not to extend an invitation to me in my capacity as Commissioner to address your Annual Delegate Conference. The correspondence informing me of this decision advises that this reflects the views of both the Executive and you, the Gardaí whom they represent.
Accordingly, I feel it is appropriate that I relay to you, as Gardaí, some important elements of what I would have included in my address to your annual conference.
Since the last GRA conference I attended, a range of additional measures have been put in place by Garda management to support Gardaí including:
- As Commissioner, I have publically stated my support for legislative acknowledgment of the particular need to deter the assault of Gardaí and I successfully petitioned for the increased penalty from 7 to 12 years for an offence of assaulting a ‘peace officer’ under s.19 (2)(b) ‘peace officer’ in this context means a member of the Garda Síochána, a prison officer or a member of the Defence Forces
- A new roster that was agreed following extensive negotiations with the Garda associations including the GRA
- Working with Government, I proposed that the retirement age for Gardaí be increased from 60 to 62, the age limit for new recruits has been extended to 50, and I initiated the process to have the Garda trainee allowance increased
- The roll-out of over 700 body-cameras to Gardaí in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, although still at the proof of concept stage of development, is providing an enhanced sense of public safety, and moreover, evidence is emerging of an immediate de-escalation of a number of dangerous situations as a result of their deployment
- Additional protective equipment has been provided, including stronger incapacitant spray, improved non-lethal equipment for ERU and ASU, and vehicles and training for public order Gardaí
- In agreement with the Garda Associations, a new operational uniform issued, which includes the introduction of a new baseball cap and a general purpose safety helmet for front-line Gardaí
- In addition to the purchase of two water cannon, there has been a significant expansion of the range of vehicles in the Garda fleet, which now has over 3,500 vehicles, the largest fleet in the history of the organisation
- There has been a focused expansion of welfare and support services including over 3,000 Garda personnel trained in mental health first aid
- Improved promotional opportunities at Sergeant and Inspector ranks including the growth of both Sergeant and Inspector ranks by 200 since 2018
- Garda management also supported the Garda Associations request in relation to improvements to Travel and Subsistence payments
This is in addition to the large number of supports and improvements brought about in response to requests by Gardaí over the last number of years.
For instance:
- Mobility devices giving all front-line Gardaí access to a wide-range of information while on the beat
- enhanced health, wellbeing and welfare supports including an increase in Employee Assistance Officers,
- expansion of the Peer-to-Peer Support Network and the introduction of a Psychological Support Programme for Garda personnel who work in areas or roles that involve routine default exposure to severe psychologically hazardous material, traumatic investigations and incidents.
Furthermore:
- A more open and transparent promotion system
- new and refurbished Garda stations and offices
- an increase in Garda staff to relieve Gardaí of administrative tasks;
- significant investment in technology systems including Investigation Management System, Roster and Duty Management System, and a new Command and Control System (GardaSAFE) that helps increase Garda safety by providing front-line Gardaí with real-time information on potentially high-risk calls for service.
Notwithstanding the decision of the GRA Central Executive Committee to not invite me to the Annual Delegate Conference, I remain, as always, open to productive and fruitful engagement with all the Staff Associations, particularly at Annual Conferences, which offer an unparalleled opportunity for professional and respectful engagement.
Yours sincerely,
Drew HarrisCommissioner
