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JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O’Callaghan has welcomed the move by gardaí to drop the push-ups and sit-ups from its physical entry test.
While in opposition, O’Callaghan called for a review of the test after it was revealed that one in six applicants were failing the physical pre-entry exam.
At the time, he said it was “too demanding” on garda recruits.
O’Callaghan, in a bid to see how strenuous the test was, took the fitness test, and took a video to prove it.
The video shows the now justice minister doing the sit-ups and press-ups which have now been scrapped. He also points out at the end that he did pass the test.
An Garda Síochána said that the push ups and sit ups “required a subjective element and lacked face validity”, adding that “face validity is whether a test appears to measure what it’s supposed to measure”.
“The introduction of a standardised pass/ fail for all applicants, as the pre-employment physical fitness/ competence test is to ensure that all applicants, irrespective of age or gender, are able to do the same operational activity,” it said.
When asked by The Journal if he is happy that the fitness test is now being modified, O’Callaghan said the assessment of prospective Garda trainees is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, but welcomed that management undertook the review of the Garda Physical Competency Assessment with a view to bringing it in line with best practice and international standards.
“The Physical Competency Assessment is one part of a robust recruitment process, which includes a written application, online aptitude tests, interviews, substance misuse tests, a medical assessment, and, of course, vetting.
“I have been clear since I took up the role of minister that recruitment into An Garda Síochána is a priority for me and for the Government so I welcome any decision that encourages applications to join An Garda Síochána while still meeting the high standards required of our gardaí,” he said.
The minister added that a Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established to increase recruitment in the gardaí.
The group will examine actions to maximise future intakes and to ensure recruitment can be as effective as possible, said the minister.
A report from the group on how to boost recruitment is due to be given to the minister by the summer.
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Where were the flight attendants the whole time Mike was being harassed? If he gets sued he should sue the airline
@thomas walsh: Americans just can’t behave themselves
@John Kelly: true . They really can’t.
@John Kelly: especially on planes. Americans get on planes and they start to act like football fans
@thomas walsh: or, do football fans act like Americans? Anyway, the flight attendants aren’t there to sort that out, the guy with the gun should have been on the scene.
@TomTraubert: Not all planes have that gun
I’d have hit the other guy myself in the same position. Tyson showed remarkable restraint to ignore their behaviour for as long as he did.
Some people deserve a good dig. This gobshyte was one.
No matter how drunk you are, it’s takes a special type of įdiot to try to persistently annoy Mike Tyson like this.
@John Sheahan: Everybody’s got a plan until they get a punch in the mouth. Mike Tyson
Alcohol impairs sensible judgement
@Paul: yep! If he had just had a spliff him and Tyson could be sitting by a pool now, chilling.
Pretty sure he said “ Mike , can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2” and Mike slapped the $hit out of him
@Mark Hannan: except gi Jane was a woman and didn’t have a stüpid face tat.
The guy knew exactly what he was doing provoking Mike Tyson and he’ll be a millionaire by the end of it which is the sad way of these things.
It’s Mike Tyson , what do you expect when you constantly annoy him? He still has that beast mode inside of him, guys lucky he didn’t take an ear!
The pr!ck deserved it
The guy knew exactly what he was doing provoking Mike Tyson and he’ll he
You’d think you’d get less clowns in business class
@The Guru: Enough alcohol will turn anyone into a clown
@thomas walsh: but you just single out the football fans Tommy boy
@John Kelly: I literally just singled out this guy and also agreed with your statement above?? Do you have a reading comprehension problem?
@thomas walsh: ah I know I’m just digging back a bit. Maybe you should just say drunk people can’t behave themselves on the football articles or ‘some football cant…..’ Instead of including all of us because a lot of football fans generally can it’s normally the drunk ones like this American tool on the plane
@John Kelly: I’m only joking around at this point as well. I just don’t understand how you guys get so upset.
@John Kelly: I think we can agree that this drunk is lucky Mike actually held back on him. He could of really damaged him
@thomas walsh: ah I know but it’s still kinda annoying its like calling all Americans brain dead even tho only most of them are :)
@John Kelly: You guys do know I’m not American, don’t you? I just happen to live here as do a lot of Irish
@thomas walsh: I pretty muched guessed that but I think a lot think you are. Plus you live there so that makes you part brain dead American like that guy on the plane. See its not nice being tarred with the same brush Tom. The irony
@John Kelly: Oh not me. Back in my younger days I might of acted up while on the drink. But I’m definitely too old for that now. And I definitely wouldn’t of been messing with Tyson
@thomas walsh: “wouldn’t of been” is so American
Investigating the video or the assault? (I know)
And he didn’t learn his lesson judging by the s tu pi d face afterwards.
Do we take it from the comments here that it’s quite okay for all of us to slap/punch anyone who is annoying us? Mike Tyson is much a much bigger stronger man than the fellow he hit. MT was in no danger from him whereas he drew blood when he hit the irritating passenger.
This was an incident which could have had serious consequences for all on board had it gotten out of hand.
@Siobhan O’Sullivan Morrin: No it would not had any consequences for anyone on board except that g0bsh!t,,,I would feel extremely safe knowing Mike Tyson was on the plane I can assure u
have your say