GRA Reaction to the Appointment of New Garda Commissioner

"I would like to take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Justin Kelly on his appointment to the role of Garda Commissioner and I look forward to meeting with him over the coming weeks to discuss the various issues affecting our membership.

"Commissioner Kelly has had a long and distinguished career in An Garda Síochána and is well aware of the concerns and unique challenges that each member of rank faces on a daily basis.

"However, serious challenges remain unresolved.  Over the past decade, we have faced a recruitment and retention issue that has been allowed to reach crisis levels. 

"We have seen serious deficiencies in driver and public order training.  We have witnessed a deterioration of our members' rights and entitlements and an erosion of our terms and conditions, and we have seen a legacy of fear and mistrust fester due to an oppressive disciplinary and suspension policy. All of these issues have seriously affected morale within our membership.

"We need to address all these issues - and more - to once again make a career in An Garda Síochána a more attractive one to potential recruits and also to make it a more rewarding one for those experienced members that we already have.

"Today, on behalf of the GRA's Central Executive Committee, I have written to the incoming Commissioner to formally request a meeting at his earliest convenience to discuss these concerns."

Ronan Slevin

General Secretary