Gardai ‘feel like second-class citizens’ as AGSI blast new morale-sapping rules on conduct & say concerns ‘ignored’ Who in their right mind, would Join the Gardai, in the Current Times. To be Ordered to Baton your own People, to Protect Illegal Foreigners?

This comes after Garda struggles to recruit young people to their forceAnd mid-ranking officers have hit out at new conduct legislation, saying it will damage morale in the forceThe new rules, which formed part of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2024, came into force this month.

A number of concerns have been raised by garda associations, including the removal of representation from the appeals board process and civilian staff being allowed to impose sanctions on attested members.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors says there was lack of consultation surrounding these regulations and has issues over the absence of training and the bypassing of standard industrial relations procedures.

The matter will be on the agenda with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who will attend the AGSI’s 47th Annual Delegate Conference in Killarney, Kerry, which kicks-off this evening.