EU PRESIDENCY OPERATION

EU PRESIDENCY OPERATION  –  CORK CITY JULY 1, 2 & 3 2026

Today the GRA’s Central Executive Committee held an emergency meeting following Garda Management’s declaration of an Extraordinary Event for the EU Presidency in Cork City –beginning this coming Wednesday.

Under this order Garda Management are directing members to work on rest days without cancelling these days. It is the GRA’s strong view that this is in breach of the Midlands Working Time Agreement (2024).

In response, the GRA have informed management of this view and now wish to inform all members that they cannot be directed or forced to perform duties on a rest day, including travel, without that rest day being cancelled, unless the member themselves are willing to.

In summary, the GRA today unanimously passed the following Motion:

"In line with the WTA and the GRA interpretation of obligations around extraordinary events should a member choose not to carry out duty where a rest day has not been cancelled, that member will be fully supported by the GRA and the GRA will engage with the dispute process if it is triggered. Where a rest day is not cancelled there is no obligation to perform duty. This is the GRA interpretation.

In line with this, the GRA will be advising it's members that they cannot be directed to work overtime on a rostered rest day unless such rest day has been cancelled in line with the WTA."

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and should you need any further clarity or advice please contact your local GRA Rep.

Regards,

Ronan Slevin,

General Secretary, GRA