The latest Spring 2023 edition of the Fórsa Garda Civilian bulletin includes details of the progress of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, and on the activation this week of the union’s grassroots political campaign on the legislation.

The campaign will see members engage in outreach in their communities, lobbying local representatives to communicate their concerns about the Bill.

Member activists began the process this week by emailing their local TDs seeking a meeting, and have been equipped with a comprehensive, step-by-step lobbying guide by Fórsa’s Strategic Organising Unit.

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.

Fórsa 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.

Fórsa lead organiser Grace Williams said activists will be talking to their TDs to put pressure on the Minister for Justice to ensure that department begins an independently arbitrated negotiation process with Fórsa as a matter of urgency: “It’s crucial that our activists convey this message to TDs. The implications of the Bill are far-reaching for our civilian members.

“Furthermore, the legislation reaches into every community in the country. It’s vital that we have the voice of Garda Civilian staff included in the legislative process,” she said.

Fórsa official Jim Mitchell explained: “Garda civilian staff provide a crucial range of services to the public, in roles that ensure Gardaí have greater capacity for direct policing work. As civil service staff, they complement the important work of the Gardaí.

“The proposal in the legislation would change the employment status of these civilian staff very significantly, confining them to the employment of An Garda Síochana,” he said.