Garda Commissioner Drew Harris insisted that he and the management team are willing to discuss delivering a new roster for rank-and-file Gardaí. 

Speaking this afternoon, Mr Harris said he will meet individually with each of the Garda Associations next week to prevent industrial action over roster disputes. 

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) announced yesterday that rank-and-file Gardaí voted to strike on November 10th unless the current four-days-on, four-days-off roster is maintained. 

They also voted to refuse to work voluntary overtime on October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. 

GRA is protesting the reintroduction of the six-days-on, four-days-off ‘Westmanstown Roster’ in November. 

The GRA met the commissioner this morning, but said that no progress was made on the issue. 

Speaking with four Garda representative associations today, Mr Harris said the old roster was reintroduced because talks aimed at developing a new one failed. 

“This is against a background of the commissioned future policing and Policing Service for the Future project, where a new roster was recommended,” he said. 

He said 60 meetings over three years took place to discuss a new roster. 

“We attempted though negation to achieve a new roster and have been so far unsuccessful,” Mr Harris said. 

“That is, in effect, why we are returning to the 2012 Westmanstown Roster.” 

Negotiations

Justice Minister Helen McEntee called the GRA decision to refuse overtime hours is “regrettable”. 

"We all want to negotiate a new roster that is suitable for the needs of the public today, and that of course works for members of An Garda Síochána,” she said. 

"The only way that that can be found is through negotiation.” 

Some 98.7% of rank-and-file Gardaí voted in favour of a no-confidence motion in Mr Harris on September 13th.