The Garda Representative Association is established under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924 as amended by the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Association is the professional body established to meet the needs of its members in areas of pay, welfare and conditions of employment.

The Association is the largest of the bodies in that it represents rank and file members of the Force and its membership currently numbers 11,500. It is to the forefront in matters of pay and welfare and has a committed and dedicated membership.

The Association’s ethos acts on democratic principles and is structured through Divisional and District Committees. All members are invited and actively participate in the electoral process, which is held every four years.

Annual Conference, comprised of elected Divisional representatives from every Garda District, is the primary policy making body of the Association and matters affecting welfare, pay and working conditions are discussed annually at the Association’s Conference held prior to the end of May

The thirty-one strong guiding body of the Central Executive Committee takes its direction ultimately from Conference and is responsible for the day to day running of the organisation in ensuring that all of the requirements of its membership are met in a practical way. All members of the Central Executive Committee are operational members of An Garda Síochána and carry out their functions as elected representatives on a part time basis. The Association oversees and administers a number of Schemes, details of which are carried under our section on Services.

The Association is strongly committed to the emphasis of welfare in the Garda Síochána and has been to the forefront in conducting surveys on stress in the work place and commits itself actively to all matters of welfare working in close harmony with the Garda Síochána Employee Assistance Officers and with Garda Management on this issue.

The Association has direct access to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and to the Garda Commissioner and likewise can seek and present arguments direct to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if that is so warranted.

The Association maintains strong links with other associations including the Police Federations for Northern Ireland, England and Wales, Scotland, British Transport and the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, New York.

The Association is a member of Eurcop, formed in late 2002 and encompassing the Standing Committee of Police in Europe, SCOPE, meets regularly to discuss matters pertinent to European legislation and European Union Law and wherein from a European dimension the Association plays a full and active part with police colleagues throughout Europe.

The Divisional Committee structure is set up in every Garda Division and Divisional Committees are supported by District Committees, which are likewise set up in each District. The Association is proud of its structures and of its membership and is a unique entity in Irish society in Association matters in that it is the only recognised Association representing rank and file members of the Garda Síochána.