Martin Kenny
Question:28. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update in relation to the ongoing roster discussions between Garda management and the Garda Commissioner. [7534/23]
View answerThursday, 16 February 2023
Questions (28)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the deployment and rostering of staff. As Minister, I have no role in the management of these functions.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission on the Future of Policing concluded that Garda rostering arrangements should be replaced by tailored rosters that work better for both police and the communities they serve.
I am regularly informed by the Commissioner on matters impacting Garda members, including matters related to rostering. The current Garda roster was introduced by the Commissioner to deal with the specific policing requirements that arose during the Covid pandemic. It was always intended by the Commissioner to be a temporary roster, to be replaced in due course.
There has been engagement over a prolonged period of time on the matter of roster reform. To assist this process an independent facilitator was appointed in July 2021. He published his recommendations on roster reform in August 2022 following intensive discussions with Garda Management and Garda Associations.
The Commissioner, the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents, and the Association of Garda Superintendents have accepted these new proposals. The Associations of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors rejected the proposals following a ballot of their members and the Garda Representative Association rejected them without a ballot. Garda Management continue to engage on the matter in line with An Garda Síochána dispute resolutions procedures.
In the meantime, the Commissioner has confirmed that the current roster will remain in place until 16 April 2023. The Commissioner has also confirmed that any new roster will be notified to all members three months of it coming into operation.