The Justice Minister’s failure to meaningfully engage with members of An Garda Síochána is compounding an already serious crisis in the force, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on justice, said:
“Speaking on RTÉ this morning, the general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said its members feel completely voiceless in major decisions impacting their terms and conditions of employment – the result of deeply inadequate consultation.
“Statements like this from Garda representatives directly contradict the narrative being pushed by the Minister for Justice.
“While oversight and accountability mechanisms are vital and must be upheld, there is something seriously wrong when Garda representatives are taking to the national airwaves to say their members feel like ‘second-class citizens’. This level of disillusionment is fuelling a collapse in morale and accelerating an already alarming crisis in recruitment and retention.
“The AGSI also highlighted some deeply worrying figures – 109 gardaí have already left the force in the first quarter of this year, with a further 25 resignations or retirements in the past two weeks alone. Against this backdrop, how can Minister O’Callaghan seriously claim that putting 5,000 additional gardaí on our streets is even remotely achievable?
“These are not political criticisms – they are coming directly from gardaí themselves. The very people the Minister claims to support are telling him that morale is collapsing and the culture within the force is deteriorating.
“But instead of listening, he is turning a blind eye. This is a complete failure of leadership.
“At a time when the force is struggling to recruit and retain members, the Minister must understand that people will not join – or remain in – an organisation where they feel disrespected, overburdened, and unheard.
“The Minister’s decision not to attend the upcoming Garda Representative Association (GRA) conference is a mistake – but his continued refusal to act on the serious concerns being raised by gardaí across the country is even more damaging.
“The Government cannot continue to bury its head in the sand while morale collapses and the force haemorrhages experienced members. We urgently need real reform, real investment, and real leadership.”
April 14, 2025