An Garda Síochána has recently commenced the roll out of PALF, the competency- based Performance, Accountability and Learning Framework. Paul Franey investigates Young people who are interested in a career in An Garda Síochána often wonder whether or not they have what it takes to become a ‘good’ garda. There are no hard and fast answers to this question […]
As John O’Keeffe discovered on St. Patrick’s Day, there are two Dublin’s living side by side. In one, thousands are enjoying enjoying a wonderful day in the City Centre. In the other, a drug culture of biblical proportions rages in Dublin North Central.Wedged between these two worlds are the men and women of An Garda Síochána, providing a service to […]
Senator Marie-Louise O’Donnell reflects on the true nature of An Garda Síochána and its unsung heroes and heroines My great grandfather, James Kirwan, was a police man; a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary from the early 20th century until partition in 1922. He served as sergeant in Bohola, went on to serve in Cleggan, became drill master in Dublin, […]
John O’Keeffe examines garda strength at the close of 2017 and advises that we continue to fall way short of the mark As of November 2017, there were 13,381 sworn members of An Garda Síochána, with some 11,000 members at garda rank. Depending on who in government or garda management you choose to believe, our numbers are at best, right […]
EDITORIAL: No sooner had Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan retired before a well-prepared political elite began to roll out their platitudes and calls for accelerated reform; the implication being that she was an obstacle rather than a facilitator. Furthermore, those on the Opposition benches saw the opportunity to call for a clear-out and bring a new management from abroad. To reduce […]
EDITORIAL: Change is coming to our world; there is a certain inevitability about it. Most of us instinctively fear change as it has a primal element that pulls us from our habits and rituals developed as a means of survival. It is always difficult for all but the most visionary; the gifted few who can imagine what it will be like […]
With the drug drive testing roll out, Robert Block takes a look at the true effectiveness of drug driving enforcement The introduction of legislation to combat drug driving, namely the amendments found in the Road Traffic Act, 2016, is a significant conceptual evolution in how the gardaí tackle driving offences. Whereas the focus had primarily been on alcohol as […]
Gardaí have to consider the mental health of those they encounter every day – but what of their own mental well-being asks John O’Keeffe On a day-to-day basis, members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with the most onerous of jobs. We require them to be social workers, counsellors, psychologists and also police officers. They are routinely abused by a […]
EDITORIAL: The particular challenge facing any public sector trade union or staff association is that they are necessarily in constant conflict with government; either asking for something that the powerful do not wish to give, or rejecting an imposition from the elite. That is why unity and solidarity are key elements; because workers’ collectives have a requirement to speak with one […]
EDITORIAL: The Garda Representative Association [GRA] advocated for an independent authority to separate policing from politics; not to deny our elected political leaders the opportunity to debate and the right to legislate on policing, but so that they were not seen to exert undue influence on appointments and operational matters. This is a delicate balance that is at the very heart […]
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