Fórsa has held meetings with An Garda Síochána senior management regarding the safety of local authority library members and the threat posed by the far-right.

The union met with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris as part of a civil society delegation, alongside LGBT Ireland and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland; and with Paula Hilman, Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing and Community Engagement.

The engagement came after Fórsa wrote to the Garda Commissioner in July, seeking an urgent meeting regarding the ongoing harassment of library workers by far-right agitators.

Since January, Fórsa members working in libraries in many parts of the country have been subjected to agitators entering libraries, harassing library workers, and attempting to remove books they deem to be “inappropriate”.

The union has repeatedly sought for local authorities to protect their employees, and in July wrote to all City and County Council managements calling for protective measures to be enacted to guard library workers from abuse and harassment in their workplace. Some City and Council managements have engaged with Fórsa on this matter, with a number responding to the union’s demands.

Head of Local Government and Local Services Richy Carrothers said that much of the union’s concerns expressed at both meetings is that the ‘soft policing' approach to far-right ‘protests’ is not working and must be changed.

Commissioner Harris acknowledged that the far-right activity emerging in recent years in Ireland is a more virulent form, which is being organised and tutored through the internet and is linked to international extremism. In reference to the suggestion of ‘soft policing’ being the official guidance on the policing of protest, the Commissioner advised that it is his intention that policing is active where there is harassment and intimidation, so that people are properly protected. More recently, a number of arrests were made in Dublin relating to far-right activity, linked to attacks on refugee centres, and the recent protest outside Leinster House.

Commissioner Harris also agreed to review the strategic guidance document on the policing of protests and will develop an action plan to be shared with the civil society representatives for their feedback.

Assistant Commissioner Hilman advised that on foot of similar issues being raised by Fórsa she is issuing a communication to all members of An Garda Síochána providing guidance on the active policing of protests.

Richy welcomed the engagement and the commitments given by both Commissioner Harris and Assistant Commissioner Hilman.

“Workers have been exposed to an unsafe workplace as these agitators freely move around libraries calling staff unimaginable slurs, all the while recording interactions and live streaming to social media. This situation intensified over the summer months after a group of agitators visited many libraries across the country on a “sovereign voyage to protect childhood”. This validated our long-held view that this was not simply a phenomenon contained to Cork City and this activity cannot be tolerated,” he said.

Fórsa is continuing to meet with hundreds of library workers who are experiencing this abuse first hand.

“We proudly represent hardworking library staff across Ireland who do integral work creating inclusive communities. We support our members, and they feel supported by their union. We won’t accept harassment of our members, but they need to see action by their employer. The solidarity shown to our members demonstrates to these groups that harassment will not be tolerated. Workers united will never be defeated,” said Richy.

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