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LAST UPDATE | 6 Oct 2023
THERE HAS BEEN “substantial” progress in talks between garda representative bodies and Commissioner Drew Harris regarding the ongoing roster dispute, sources have said.
It has emerged that the Garda Representative Association (GRA) have also deferred their days of action including on Budget Day, all of which has been welcomed by Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
Sources have said that tensions have been eased and talks are continuing but that a possible agreement, if finally accepted by GRA officials, would see the Commissioner’s proposed roster be altered.
Sources have said that there is a likelihood the adoption of any roster will be pushed out to next year also.
Drew Harris had set a deadline of 6 November for the introduction of his revised roster.
According to statements from the Garda Representative Association (GRA) this has been a substantial sticking point for their negotiation team.
The Journal has learned that garda management delivered a new proposed roster at the meeting.
Previously the Commissioner had announced his intention to reimpose the pre-Covid, 2012 Westmanstown Roster, which involves a six-day-on, four-day-off pattern for all members on a 10-week cycle.
This would require the creation and deployment of five units and would commence in the week beginning 6 November, 2023.
This morning that all changed as Harris’ team told the GRA and garda associations that on 6 November, 2023 gardaí attached to regular uniform response units and the Armed Support Unit, control room operators, immigration officers as well as other units would stay on the four-on-four-off 12 hour shift rotation.
While all other units attached to detective branch, traffic units and community policing would adopt the six-on-four off 10 hour shift rotation.
Sources have said that this is essentially the GRA’s original proposal from the negotiations which began more than two years ago.
The GRA has told their members in a missive this evening that the acceptance of the new roster arrangements is only a temproary measure to allow negotiations.
They also said that any final acceptance would be subject of a ballot of all members.
It is understood that the GRA message to its members said that they will continue to engage with senior gardaí and the Government in regard other issues such as suspensions, cumbersome administrative tasks and discipline.
A garda spokesperson confirmed that new proposals were put forward by Harris.
“At the meeting today, Garda management put forward a set of proposals that all the Garda associations agreed to bring back to each of their central executives for consideration.
“Following this, all parties are due to meet again on Monday, 9 October 2023.
“An Garda Síochána will not be commenting on the detail of the proposals until each association has had the opportunity to consider them,” the spokesperson said.
The move follows the recent announcement by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) that their members had entered a de facto work-to-rule by not agreeing to work overtime on Budget Day 10 October and Halloween night 31 October – as well as 17 and 24 October.
The rank-and-file gardaí have also voted in favour of a proposal to strike on 10 November.
The action began this week with gardaí withdrawing from taking voluntary overtime shifts.
The gardaí have colloquially begun to call the action the ‘Drew Flu’ – which is a reference to their 1998 withdrawal of labour known as the ‘Blue Flu’, when gardaí called in sick in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Last month, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) members took a vote of no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris – with 98.7% of the 85% member turnout backing the motion.
In a statement tonight, Justice Minister Helen McEntee welcomed the progress made in talks today.
“I have consistently maintained that the only way to resolve differences is through negotiation,” said McEntee.
She added: “I welcome that further GRA action has been called off, and that the GRA has indicated it is willing to enter negotiations.
“I am conscious that the other associations will deliberate further over the weekend, and that must be respected.”
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Taste of his own medicine…..welldone french police
Would have preferred that he would suffer through the remainder of his life in a prison tbh rather than such a quick end.
Sounds like he killed himself jumping out the window coward to the end
Yes, Shane. Coward. As they all are. It must never be forgotten that he murdered children in cold blood. To hell with him.
Shane it was a ground floor apartment so I don’t think he jumped out the window to commit suicide!
Gearoid ye it had said it was a 5 story building and wasn’t sure what floor he was on , sure ended up he got a bullet in the skull from a police sniper .
Instead of 50 virgins in paradise, he’s, hopefully, simply stone dead.
It’s 72 virgins actually.
In fact there’s an argument about the translation of the word “virgin”, it could be “grapes”. So these nuts are looking forward to dying for a bunch of grapes :)
72 Susan Boyles…..aaagh
Inevitable end really,he was dead when he went into that house but I would’ve liked to see him rotting in a lonely dull cell for the rest of his life
About time!!
Real shame he wasn’t captured alive and put on trial. This was too quick an end for him.
Unfortunately he may be seen as a hero to extremists and may inspire other attacks.
LePen and her neo Nazi kind will use this to further ingrate tensions between France and it’s north african minority.
I’m also surprised that a lot of reports ignore the fact that his first victims were french muslim soldiers.
Headshot whilst jumping from a window..? Good amount of XP for that!
I’m actually so disappointed that it ended like this he got exactly what he wanted jumping out of a window guns blazing, to nutters like him he will be seen as a hero. Justice for the families would have been for him to see out the rest of his days in little 4/4 cell somewhere. But I guess there was very little the police could do it was almost inevitable that he was not going to be taken alive.
The commandos weren’t up to much by the sounds of it. This lunatic seemed to have the upper hand from day one. Should have brought in the SAS.
Dens do you try take the proverbial piss on everything? Seriously a therapist would have nightmares with you.
The French RIAD unit regularly train with other elite units like the SAS and GIGN, at the end of the day a nut with a fully automatic machine gun in a small apartment can get a lucky shot off. Job well done by them anyway.
Arrogance ….. You should have gone over there and shown them how to do it Denis.
Allez Les Blue.
Simple question comes to mind, where did he get the gun/s – in particular the machine gun/s?
A kalashnikov can be picked up in the suburbs of Marseille for 400 Euro
“Jumped” yeah right.
good shot!!!
Well done to the French Police. What a scumbag I have no sympathy for him.
Sarkozy said in a statement that this lunatic has been under police surveillance for a number of years. Obviously not the other day when he committed murder. Any terrorist who is considered a threat should be locked up instead of getting a police escort which doesn’t work anyway.
Allen les Blue
have your say