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Shatter to address garda conference amid concern over pay cuts

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors gathers for its annual conference in Sligo today with Justice Minister Alan Shatter due to address delegates this evening.

THE ASSOCIATION OF Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) gathers for its annual delegate conference in Sligo today with Justice Minister Alan Shatter due to address delegates this evening.

The conference is set to focus on cuts to garda pay as a result of changes proposed in the successor to the Croke Park Agreement on public sector pay and reform which will look to cut €60 million in the garda pay bill over the next three years.

Tensions between the Minister and garda representative groups have been high in recent weeks with gardaí speaking out over concerns about cuts to resources and staging a number of work-to-rule protests.

“The depth of feeling surrounding proposed pay cuts to our members will be palpable,” the AGSI general secretary John Redmond said in a statement issued ahead of the three-day conference.

Shatter will address the conference this evening at 6.45pm while the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan will address the conference tomorrow afternoon at 4pm.

Independent Stephen Donnelly is also due to address the AGSI conference tomorrow with delegates also due to elect a president with national executive members Antoinette Cunningham and Tim Galvin in the running.

A number of motions proposed by regional branches of the AGSI largely focus on cuts to pay, allowances and resources with the conference to vote on rejecting the proposed Croke Park II deal.

The conference will also vote on a proposal to look at the feasibility of training officers in welfare issues “in order that they can give assistance to members struggling due to current financial cutbacks and workloads.”

Redmond added: “Our members are in limbo and there is a deep sense of worry and concern around pay and allowances, so much so that it will totally dominate conference this year.”

Read: Gardaí feel like ‘sitting ducks’ after decision to withdraw Uzi submachine guns

Read: ‘I have given as much as I can’ – garda speaks out against pay cuts

Read: GRA protest at pay talks ‘a bad day’ for Garda reputation: Shatter

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42 Comments
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    Mute tubbsyf
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    Sep 8th 2019, 8:49 PM

    Yet the gaa which has terrible participation rates get the majority if grants. More pools, cycle tracks , astro pitches etc needed

    51
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    Mute Davis Payne
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    Sep 8th 2019, 9:37 PM

    Sport is not the answer to mental health issues, I know a lot of people that suffer immense sports anxiety. I know 1 person in particular that suffered huge depression as a result of the team losing a number of matches where he took the blame on himself. Unfortunately sport is not a quick fix, there is none. We need to manage the expectations and pressures we put on people as a nation.

    32
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    Mute Seán Troy
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    Sep 8th 2019, 9:54 PM

    @Davis Payne:

    There is no better solution for anxiety than exercise. Power lifting in particular.

    25
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    Mute helen walsh
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    Sep 9th 2019, 12:24 AM

    @Davis Payne: yes and another thing..hands were made to use, more hobbies, more diy…more community involvement, more jobs for pocket money from a young age. Less social media.

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    Mute Seamus Scott
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    Sep 8th 2019, 10:25 PM

    Sport is not the answer , your deluded if you think that , it’s a help but not the answer , will sport be there when your down in yourself at midnight , what about lots of guys who just can’t stand sport it’s not the answer for them , who makes up this stuff .

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    Mute SC
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    Sep 8th 2019, 10:31 PM

    Men are not so irrational. When they are stressed it is usually because of real iddues like financial or relationship problems or loneliness. There’s a lot society can do (get rent under control,.make young men feel wanted in work and like their life has direction, give young people back some free time so they can actually socialise and meet women/men rather than work and go to the gym.all the time) and not as much an individual can do for themselves because these big issues are out of our hands.

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    Mute John Joe & Bridie
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    Sep 9th 2019, 9:50 AM

    Every 6 weeks we get a Lynn knows best article…..

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    Mute Wayne Scales
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    Sep 8th 2019, 9:57 PM

    100% correct doesn’t work for everyone but for many it is the light at the e d of a dark tunnel.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Sep 9th 2019, 7:13 AM

    Sport isn’t a blanket answer to mental health issues. I’ve played competitive sports from a young age. If you have low self esteem to begin with, you need to be very careful what sports you choose to participate in. From what i’ve seen in the various sports and clubs i’ve been in, bullying and verbal abuse is rife in them.

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    Mute Sean May
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    Sep 9th 2019, 1:16 PM

    @Dave Doyle: I agree whole-heartedly with you on this. I lost all interest in sporting activity for years as a result of such abuse.

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    Mute Henry Gaynor
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    Sep 9th 2019, 8:18 AM

    All young men should do two years compulsory military service. They will learn the value of discipline, fitness, comradeship, and taking care of themselves.

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