Speech by Minister Jim O’Callaghan at the AGSI Annual Delegate Conference

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President, General Secretary, Sergeants and Inspectors.

Go raibh maith agaibh go léir. Thank you for inviting me to be here to address your annual conference.

Having worked for many years in a different job which involved liaising with An Garda Síochána I want you to know that I have great knowledge and respect for the work that Inspectors and Sergeants do as managers within An Garda Síochána. I respect that work and I acknowledge that work and I know the work in An Garda Síochána could not happen without you.

I also know from my personal involvement as a Grandson of a Garda Sergeant of the great significance of the role of being a manager within An Garda Síochána. The role of a Garda sergeant, the Garda Inspector is crucial to the operation of the force. I’ve also been Minister for Justice for 11 weeks now and I can tell you that my engagement with An Garda Síochána whether through the representative bodies or through the Sergeants, Inspectors, Superintendents, Chief Superintendents and higher that I have met have convinced me of the expertise within the force and I am extremely impressed by the quality of management and garda service within An Garda Síochána. So, for all those reasons I can tell you I am very pleased to be here this afternoon and I am well aware of the extremely important work that you do on behalf of the Irish public.

I am also aware that we will be shortly announcing the appointment of a new Garda Commissioner.

I hope to be able to bring that name to Cabinet in July this year. I want to commend Commissioner Harris for his work and public service over the past number of years. I also want to say that I hope to see the very many of the fine members of senior management within An Garda Síochána applying for the job of Garda Commissioner.

It is essential that all the talent within the force is available to provide the leadership that Declan spoke about to you there. Certainly, when it comes to the leadership of An Garda Síochána we are dependent on having strong leadership in the position of Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners as we go down to the role of Sergeant. I am fully aware of the crucial role that is played and I would like to ensure that we get the best candidates applying for that post and that candidate will be able to apply on terms and conditions that are equitable across the board.

I also want you to know and this is something that I will not bore myself from repeating, is that the Irish people have huge support for An Garda Síochána and this is something we should not take for granted. In other countries that I visit I am told about great conflict between the police force and members of the public. This does not happen in Ireland. I also know however it is a very challenging job and sometimes you can be subject to unfair or untruthful criticism from the political establishment. When it is fair, it should be taken. When it is unfair it shouldn’t be taken.

Recently in Dáil Eireann very serious allegations were made against female members of An Garda Síochána who had conducted searches on women who had been arrested under the Public Order Act. On foot of those grave allegations made under parliamentary privilege, I asked the Commissioner for an account of what occurred. I asked that body cam footage and any recordings be examined, particularly the recordings from garda stations. Having conducted his enquiries, the Commissioner reported back to me last week in writing, stating that his enquiries revealed that the allegations made by some members of Dail Eireann were false. I want you to know that I know that these allegations were very upsetting and damaging for the female gardai accused of this grave wrongdoing. Politicians in my opinion, should reflect on that before standing up in Dail Eireann to make very serious allegations about identifiable Gardai. Politicians should inform people alleging Garda misconduct that the appropriate forum to make such complaints is to go to the statutory agency responsible for those complaints Fiosrú, which is the new body established last week. Any such investigation conducted by Fiosrú, will also have access to the recordings examined by the Commissioner. If such a complaint is made, it’ll be thoroughly investigated and determined but if people won’t avail of that statutory procedure politicians should not be condemning the Gardai for doing the lawful job that the Oireachtas has asked and authorised you to do.

I want you to know that as Minister for Justice I will defend the Gardai against any partisan and unfair attacks in Dáil Eireann.

My message is clear to you in respect of that issue and that is that I trust the management and members of An Garda Síochána to appropriately use your discretion and judgement when keeping the streets of our cities safe. I trust in the high standards of training our Gardai are given in adhering to robust regulations and law and most of all I trust in the dedicated experience of your members as Sergeants and Inspectors to guide and supervise them in their important work. Senior management depend on you every day to keep the wheels in motion by being a crucial support to frontline Gardai. For my part, I am always looking at ways to ensure all citizens can be safe and feel safe. That was the reason why I commenced the new Act last week. The necessary changes ensure we have a modern and effective police force equipped for the times we live in. I also believe that the new Act respects and upholds the traditions of service to the public and community, policing ethos on which An Garda Síochána was founded.

I welcome the engagement that I had with AGSI and other representative associations over the past number of weeks. I note there is concern about the new regulations governing the standards of professional behaviour, conduct and performance of Gardai and I know there will be some remaining concerns and I am open to dealing with representative associations in respect of that.

I want you to know however that having engaged with you, my officials did take on board very many of the suggestions that you had proposed and I want to assure you that in signing those regulations it was not in any way my intention to be provocative. I have to look to see what I believe, having consulted with the representative associations, is in the best interest of the Irish public. It is important to recall that the new legislation with the changes it brings in has been introduced in the interest of upholding public trust in An Garda Síochána. It is designed for the benefit of the public, who we all serve.

I also want to point out that very regrettably we have in the past seen some cases of Gardaí convicted in the courts, not just for very serious crimes but for the most egregious breaches of trust. Effective policing relies on public trust and confidence and that requires both fair and proportionate oversight and that is the purpose behind the regulations.

The development of policies and procedures to address more minor conduct issues and general performance management is the responsibility of Garda management, and this work has started.

Like the Code of Conduct, the Standards of Professional Behaviour are in my opinion a positive statement of what it means to be a member of An Garda Síochána. I know that the overwhelming majority of Gardaí meet these standards – which are upholding the law, acting with honesty and integrity, exercising their police powers in a lawful, and proportionate manner. They were being exercised by you long before these Regulations came into operation.

As Sergeants and Inspectors, you have a unique perspective on the Regulations as Gardaí yourselves and crucially in your role as frontline managers. When I meet again with your representatives later this year, I want to hear how those perspectives have translated into practical experiences, and I will be open to considering any issues that emerge. But I firmly believe that the new conduct and performance system is a more appropriate system than the 2007 Discipline Regulations, both in terms of fair procedures for members and in serving the interests of the public in maintaining ongoing confidence within An Garda Síochána.

I am fully aware that at the heart of some of the difficulties that you as Gardai face is the issue of resources. I am also aware that public confidence will be improved by increasing the number of Gardai.

A strong and visible policing service is vital to ensuring that An Garda Síochána can deliver on the high level of service that the public expects.

The fact that people across the country want to see more Gardaí in their communities and on the streets reflect the high standing in which you are held. Everywhere I go when the issue of Gardai is raised in communities when I am speaking to members of the public, the one thing they consistently say is that they want to see more Gardai out on the streets. I know it places a huge burden on you but there’s a very positive story behind that narrative. It shows the confidence the people of Ireland have in An Garda Síochána.

Since I was appointed Minister for Justice, I have been very clear in saying that most of what I want to achieve in this role is dependent upon hiring more Gardaí. I want you also to know that I have heard loud and clear your concerns about the operating model. Can I just say to you that I am not paralysed in sticking to an operating model as being the only solution. It is a model. The whole purpose of a model is to ensure that the model achieves the objective for which it has been prepared. The objective is to ensure that we have the most effective policing system in Ireland. I believe many of the legitimate issues you have raised in private with me can be traced back to the requirement for more resources. I hear what you say about the model, I’ll reflect on it however it should not be the case that a politician is responsible for directing how Gardai conduct their policing. It is a matter for the leadership and senior management within An Garda Síochána in consultation with the Minister. If the operating model needs to be changed or tweaked well that should occur.

Over the long term, the recognition in the new Act that harm prevention and safety in our communities is not the sole responsibility of An Garda Síochána, will have a transformative effect. Gardai have huge obligations placed upon them. They are required not just to enforce the law but very many of the social requirements that have arisen in our society are placed on the desk of An Garda Síochána. I know that is an extreme burden but in a way it is reflective of the confidence the public have in you.

My primary focus immediately is on strengthening An Garda Síochána. To help achieve this, I have a number of commitments in the Programme for Government, including the recruitment of 5,000 new Gardaí during the term of this government. I hear what associations say to me that we won’t be able to recruit but it’s my job to be ambitious for An Garda Síochána. I want to say to the public and to young people that it is a job worth considering. It is a great job that involves serving the public and I would urge, and I will continue to urge young people and people up to the age of 50 to consider a career in An Garda Síochána. I will leave no stone unturned in trying to deliver those numbers.

In an interconnected world where people’s work patterns are now very different, and recruitment to traditional frontline roles and shift work generally is much more difficult, this will require An Garda Síochána to be agile and to do things differently.

As I say I will continue to focus on trying to recruit people and encourage young people to join the force.

I am also aware of the issue you have in respect of retention and that is an issue that needs to be focused on by my department to ensure we can retain the talent within An Garda Síochána. Part of the problem however is because members of An Garda Síochána are so employable in the private sector. Very many people want to recruit members of An Garda Síochána and that is a factor I am very much aware of.

I’m very open to engagement with your association on any measures we can take to support current members, whether that is stronger protections, more wellbeing supports and thorough fair and equitable conditions.

Significant measures have already been made to boost recruitment and to help retain the Gardaí we already have.

We have increased the training allowance, the age of entry and the mandatory retirement age.

It is unquestionably the case however that the restrictions during COVID-19 significantly reduced intake into the Garda College.

It has taken time to get back in the right direction but I believe that we can turn it around in terms of recruitment.

I was at an attestation in Templemore recently. It was a great occasion for the families of the new Gardai.

It was also a case that there was 149 newly attested Gardai. But what encouraged me more was the news I heard that day that the following Monday that 200 new trainees were starting in Templemore. Additionally, a recruitment campaign that was started in late January, early February, which resulted in applications of interest from 6,700 persons.

Now I know you may that they won’t translate into numbers, but it’s my job to try to ensure that we do get those numbers through. And as I have already stated we need to encourage young people and tell them that it is an exciting job and it is, as the expression goes ‘a job worth doing.’

Even though there are economic threats on the horizon, our economy is still in good health and we continue to see people wanting to serve the public and take up the challenge of a fulfilling career in An Garda Síochána.

We’ve opened up the age of entry into An Garda Síochána to people over 35.

All of you know of course, that while it can often be a challenging and sometimes a dangerous job, it is an exciting career.

I also want you to know that as Minister, you will always have my support in your pursuit of law and order and in your community policing.

The record allocation for this year’s budget will also ensure the organisation has the equipment and technology to keep people and Garda members safe.

I know that the body-worn cameras being used on a trial basis in Limerick, Waterford, and Dublin City Centre are a success. Gardai have told me that they have changed the performance and behaviour of people. As you know you have been exposed to this appalling behaviour of people coming up with phones and putting them in the faces of An Garda Síochána. However, people are much more cowardly when they know that their own behaviour is going to be filmed. I want to see body cameras rolled out for every Garda on the street.

We also have increased resources in terms of dealing with public order issues and significant amount of expenditure was spent on that.

There’s also a large capital budget for An Garda Siochana and I want to see the garda stations that are in the pipeline, I want to see those projects developed and built whether it’s for the new garda stations in Portlaoise, Clonmel, Macroom or Newcastle West. €11 million is being invested in a significant programme of modernisation and refurbishment in every region to improve facilities for everyone working in these stations and I want to improve access for the public.

I know that you have been disappointed in the recent past by a lack of progress on the matter of the Garda Travel and Subsistence scheme and I agree with what has been said by you.

Although I have only been Minister for 11 weeks I am going to do something about it. I have instructed my officials to ensure that this issue gets over the line and they are engaging with Revenue in respect of it. It needs to be finalised. It has gone on too long and I know you say you are being treated as second class public servants, that is not my intention and I want to ensure that the failings of that Scheme as it operates at present are corrected so that you get your proper Travel and Subsistence Scheme.

As I said to you I promised to make whatever interventions I could to move things along and I am saying that my officials in my department have intervened and they have liaised with the Revenue Commissioners on this matter and I hope this matter will be finalised shortly.

I have also asked my officials to progress engagement on local bargaining matters. I understand this will be an opportunity for the Association to negotiate additional changes in pay for its members under the Public Sector Pay Agreement and I expect my officials will work with you to achieve and agree an acceptable process.

I want you to know that I appreciate that the new Act is not the only change that you, as Garda members and leaders, are experiencing.

The criminal landscape is also changing.

On top of your community policing duties and dealing with traditional crimes, if I can call them that, you are dealing with new technologies and with risks from social media.

You have always demonstrated resilience and strength in the face of change.

And the Sergeants and Inspectors in this room are the women and men who will drive the next period of change.

You are an example to the next generation, and I want to sincerely thank you for your continued service and for your dedication and commitment to keeping the people of Ireland safe.

I am fully aware of the responsibilities on a representative association, and I commend the work of the garda representatives associations for the work that they do on behalf of their members but I also want you to appreciate that as Minister for Justice I just can’t become a lobbyist for Garda representative associations. I will support Gardai as far as I can, but my focus and my priority must always be to do what’s in the best interest of the Irish public. For the vast majority of situations my interest and your interests will align.

Finally, I want to thank you for inviting me to meet with you all today and for your continued engagement.

I wish you the very well in your conference and I hope to attend further conferences in the future.

I want to conclude by saying you have my support. You do an excellent job. The Irish public support you and it is important as Minister for Justice that I re-emphasise that and I look forward to meeting with some of you later on.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.