The Fórsa Garda Civilian campaign on the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill has received significant political backing following a recent Dáil debate on the issue.

Aodhán O Riordáin TD called on justice minister Simon Harris to meet with Fórsa representatives to ensure proper engagement on the new legislation can take place.

He said: “Changing the employment status of workers without their engagement is simply wrong and the Bill cannot proceed without having these workers’ voices heard.

“These workers are fundamental to the operations of the Force but the proposed changes could result in a loss of mobility and access to interdepartmental competitions in the Civil Service, as well as seeing their governance move to GSOC.”

The Fórsa campaign also received support in the Dáil last week during its debate on the legislation from deputies Catherine Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett, Michael McNamara, Martin Browne and Louise O’Reilly,

Fórsa’s grassroots political campaign on the legislation has seen members engage in outreach in their communities, lobbying local representatives to communicate their concerns about the Bill.

Fórsa represents more than 3,000 Garda civilian staff employed by the Department of Justice who work in a wide variety of non-policing roles alongside Gardaí.

The union says its Garda civilian members have very deep concerns about provisions in the Bill that will empower the Garda Commissioner to recruit Garda staff directly into the police service rather than to the Civil Service, as is currently the case.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.