‘difficult position’ | 

Minister Helen McEntee ‘snubbed’ GRA just six days before conference

The Minister declined to attend the event as the Garda Commissioner had not been invited

Today at 19:10

THE Central Executive Committee of the GRA was informed by Minister Helen McEntee that she would not be attending their conference just six days before it was held in Westport, Co. Mayo.

The Minister declined to attend the event as the Garda Commissioner had not been invited.

Rank-and-file gardai, whom the GRA represent, had previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of a no-confidence motion in the Commissioner.

“It was very late in the day when we found out she wasn’t going to come because she felt it put her in a difficult position,” association President Mark O’Meara said.

“It certainly hasn’t helped relationships … it can’t have … and we have to be honest about that.

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“It was a snub. We had asked repeatedly in the months beforehand whether she was coming and she didn’t answer.

“She told us she didn’t know and she was still considering her position.

“And then, on Wednesday night, we got the email telling us that she wasn’t going to make the conference because it would undermine her position with the Garda Commissioner. And that we feel is regrettable.”

Mr O’Meara said in spite of the no-confidence motion in Commissioner Harris and his non-invite to the Conference, the GRA have been engaging in productive talks with both him and his leadership team recently.