The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is seeking an urgent meeting with the Justice Minister over concerns around proposed new conduct regulations.
The changes are set to be introduced on January 1st, and will - among other things - see changes made to the board which Gardaí can appeal dismissals to.
The GRA wrote in a letter requesting an urgent meeting with Minister Helen McEntee that this move would see 'unfettered reign’ handed to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris when it came to terminations.
On Newstalk Breakfast, GRA secretary Ronan Slevin said that the changes would remove employee representation in the Garda appeals process.
“Every other employee in the state has access to the unfair dismissals act, in which they can take a dismissal ruling down to, and get a ruling in relation to it,” he said.
“The only access we have is to the appeal board under the current regulations.
“The composition of [the appeal board] was mirrored on the Labour Court to ensure a balanced and fair approach.
“It consisted of an employee, an employer representative and an independent chair.
“Under these regulations, they’re going to remove the employee representative and replace it with another employer representative - which means that the Commissioner will have unchecked decisions in relation to the dismissal of members.”
Unfair dismissal claims
Mr Slevin said that Gardaí cannot take unfair dismissal claims, and that under these new regulations, there won’t be any provision for them to do so.
"We cannot have a situation where the employer's decision to dismiss is unchecked and unverified,” he said.
“I have to say, in recent appeal hearings where decisions of dismissal have come before the appeal board, the majority of those cases has been reversed by that panel.
“Which shows that the Commissioner’s decision to dismiss has been excessive and harsh at times.”
Mr Slevin said that the GRA has yet to receive a reply from the Justice Minister.
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Main image: split image showing Helen McEntee (L) and a garda lamp post (R).
