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THE GOVERNMENT RETAINS full confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and that will not change if rank-and-file gardaí pass a vote of no confidence in him, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is balloting members amid a deepening dispute over Harris’s plans to change the rostering system within the force.
The GRA, representing 12,000 rank-and-file gardaí, said it was “disappointed” following a meeting with the Garda boss yesterday to discuss concerns raised by members.
Its interim general-secretary Ronan Slevin said issues with resources, recruitment and suspensions were discussed, but that the “central issue regarding rosters remains unresolved”.
The unprecedented no-confidence vote stems from discontent within the force, mostly around the Commissioner’s plan to return to a pre-pandemic roster from 6 November.
A different roster was implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, and commitment was given by the GRA and other representative groups to return to the old roster when it ended.
But the GRA has raised concerns over low morale in the force and said retention and recruitment issues will affect the implementation of the old roster.
Speaking to reporters in Co Louth, Varadkar was asked whether he would support Justice Minister Helen McEntee removing Harris if the GRA passed a vote of no confidence in him.
He made it clear the Government would not be removing the commissioner.
“That won’t happen,” said Varadkar. “The Government has confidence in Commissioner Harris.
“The commissioner is appointed by government after a fair competition and we stand by that process.
“It’s not the case that the teachers in the staffroom decide who the principal is. It’s not the case that the players decide who the coach is.
“The Garda Commissioner is appointed by the Government after a fair and free process that people can apply for and we stand over that appointment and we have confidence in him,” Varadkar added.
Last Wednesday the central executive committee (CEC) of the GRA decided to ballot its members.
The CEC cited what it said was the commissioner’s failure to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis and lack of appropriate training as among the issues behind the decision.
A date has not yet been chosen for the vote, though it is expected to be held in three to four weeks.
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I am sure that it was Erskine Childers snr and not his son, president Childers that was the author of riddle of the sands. He was also part of the delegation that negotiated the Anglo Irish agreement following the war of independence.
That’s what I thought too when I first read that.
It was actually Erskine Childers’ father who was executed in 1922, that wrote The Riddle of the Sands. Great article tho Sinead and god knows Darby O Gill was the ultimate in paddywhackery !!
It was Erskine Childer’s father who was the writer.
Hillery’s golf handicap sums up his presidency
It’s well known that De Valera,as Taoiseach, went to the German embassy and offered condolences to the Nazis on the death of Adolf Hitler.
I never knew that President Douglas Hyde did the same thing.
Ireland’s best kept dirty secret?
Not a ‘dirty secret’ – as a neutral country, Hyde was acting appropriately as Head of State rather than expressing a personal view
Research fail…
What a horrible Americanism If you are american I forgive you
@fitszpatrick
How is “X fail” an Americanism? I has thought it was more of an Internetism. Fail is the opposite of win and both can be used as nouns.
In other news, what horrible capitalisation and lack of punctuation. If you are under the age of ten, I forgive you.
Like ur fail is the opposite of succeed and lose is the opposite of win. Enough already Eva. If you are woman I forgive you
No mention of the “small joke” which JFK cracked in the Dáil and which so annoyed Dev. What was it?
Hi Pete,
Thanks for your comment. The story was told by Ryan Tubridy in his JFK in Ireland book last year. He discovered that de Valera had wiped the offending part of JFK’s address to the Dáil from the record – quite extraordinary!
The “joke” was a reference to Lord Edward Fitzgerald’s line “Leinster House does not inspire the brightest ideas.”
JFK seemingly meant it as a light hearted quip, as he added, “that was a long time ago, however”. It wasn’t enough to appease Dev, according to Seán Lemass, who heard him tell the young American that “he had done no service to Irish politicians by this quotation”.
The whole story (is a bit longer than this – so wasn’t really suitable for this article) can be read in that book if you’re interested. Hope this answers your question.
Thanks again for your feedback.
Best,
Sinead
It is also ironic that Erskine Childers was executed by the Free State government for possession of a pistol that was a gift from Michael Collins.
Where’s the explanation of the caption under the picture?
Brutal work.
Hi
Thanks for your comment. The story was told by Ryan Tubridy in his JFK in Ireland book last year. He discovered that de Valera had wiped the offending part of JFK’s address to the Dáil from the record – quite extraordinary!
The “joke” was a reference to Lord Edward Fitzgerald’s line “Leinster House does not inspire the brightest ideas.”
JFK seemingly meant it as a light hearted quip, as he added, “that was a long time ago, however”. It wasn’t enough to appease Dev, according to Seán Lemass, who heard him tell the young American that “he had done no service to Irish politicians by this quotation”.
The whole story (is a bit longer than this – so wasn’t really suitable for this article) can be read in that book if you’re interested. Hope this answers your question.
Sinead
Nothing wrong with Darby O’Gills and the Little People.
It’s a fine Cork pub.
“One of the last presidential acts of Douglas Hyde was to visit the German ambassador Eduard Hempel on May 3, 1945. During the visit, which remained a secret until 2005, he reportedly offered his condolences on the death of Adolf Hitler.”
It did not ‘remain a secret until 2005′. It was widely known and circulated at the time and afterwards. It was common knowlege when I was growing up, learning history at secondary school and subsequently at third level. In case you’re wondering I’m no six year old.
Anyone got video of Mary Robinson on the Den? looks like it was in The Best Bits of the Den DVD
Noth
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