Justice Minister Jim O Callaghan’s decision not to attend the Garda Representative Association’s rank and file annual conference this year is a missed opportunity to demonstrate meaningful support for members of the force at a crucial juncture, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon
Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on justice, said:
“The gardaí perform an extraordinarily difficult job under immense pressure. However, for years their pay and working conditions have been disgracefully inadequate.
“It has been glaringly obvious that successive Justice Ministers, under both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, have merely offered lip service when encouraging recruitment to the force – failing to provide the necessary pay and conditions that would allow members to lead comfortable lives outside of carrying out their duties
“To then refuse to attend the GRA’s annual conference this year, during a perfect storm of crises – from rising crime rates and massive challenges in Garda recruitment to the deteriorating relationship between gardaí and their Commissioner – is simply unacceptable.
“Gardaí have made their stance clear by overwhelmingly voting to exclude the Commissioner from both this year’s and last year’s conferences, citing a breakdown in trust, ongoing issues with rosters, and unmanageable administrative tasks.
“Their message could not be clearer: the government and Commissioner must listen to their concerns and take immediate action.
“While the Minister for Justice can, and should, encourage dialogue between the GRA and the Commissioner, it is absolutely crucial that he shows concrete support for members at this critical time. His decision not to attend the conference is, without a doubt, an error of judgement that undermines the importance of the issues facing gardaí and their role in keeping our communities safe.
“It is time for Minister O’Callaghan to stop offering empty rhetoric and start addressing the real challenges facing the force.”
April 10, 2025