A delegation of Fórsa’s Garda Civilian members attended the Seanad on Wednesday (4th October) for the second stage debate on the Policing, Security and Community Safety 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.
Members remain deeply concerned about provisions in the legislation 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.
During the debate, Sinn Féin senator Paul Gavan told Minister for Justice Helen McEntee that the absence of proper negotiations is causing great concern among garda civilian staff: “One of the ideas of this Bill is to ensure that everyone is on the same team. That is one of the key themes of the Bill. If they are on the same team, why has the Minister not commenced detailed negotiations?
“We know she has the new terms and conditions but none of these people have seen them. She has not shared them with them. This is a political choice she has made. I appeal to her today to make a different choice,” he said.
Senator Marie Sherlock also called for proper engagement with the union and outlined the difficulties facing civilian staff: “The civilian workforce is understaffed and under-resourced. Many of them are under enormous pressure and many are telling us they want to leave their roles because of that pressure. We need them in their roles, particularly because of the experience they have built up over many years.
“It is vital, and a condition of our support for the Bill, to hear there is engagement between the Minister and Fórsa on the change to their work status. To show respect to any workforce, it has to be part of the conversation. The change cannot be inflicted upon them,” she said.
Members of the delegation had an opportunity to speak directly with the justice minister after the debate.
Paula Gilman, who works in the Garda college in Templemore, said delegates told the minister that people are leaving their civilian posts in An Garda Síochána to take up posts elsewhere, driven by fear and concerns about the employment model proposed in the legislation.
Fórsa official Jim Mitchell expressed disappointment that there had been no solid commitment provided by the minister on discussions at the WRC, or details on proposed terms and conditions. However, he said he welcomed the opportunity to communicate the union’s concerns directly: “We believe the only appropriate forum for discussion on this issue is the WRC,” he said.
Fórsa member Ellie Brennan told the minister about union concerns that service officers, service attendants and cleaner posts have already been outsourced at the new Garda HQ building. Ellie, who is on full-time release from Fórsa’s FGE branch, told the minister that civilianisation of the police force should include the direct recruitment of service officers, service attendants and cleaners.
Fórsa members have been engaged in a grassroots political campaign on the legislation since early 2023, lobbying local representatives to communicate their concerns about the Bill.
The union made representations to the Oireachtas Justice Committee during pre-legislative scrutiny last year to convey the union’s position that Garda Civilians were not consulted on the legislation.
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