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President’s Address
It is my great pleasure and honour, as President of the Garda Representative Association, to officially open and welcome you all to
this, our 29th Annual Delegate Conference in the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo., a venue which has served us well in the past. I wish to extend a warm welcome to all of you - delegates, fraternal delegates, guests, from near and far and also to representatives of the press, radio and television.
I would particularly like to thank the secretariat, P J Stone, General
Secretary, John Healy, Deputy General Secretary, Terry Leonard, Assistant to the General Secretary and all the staff at our Headquarters in Phibsboro Tower for their support and loyalty to me as
President and for their dedicated work during the past year in endeavoring to further the aims of our Association.
This past year has been difficult for our Association with the Garda
Reserve issue still very fresh on our minds. Despite our best efforts, the Government proceeded with this measure which, as we predicted, has been floundering. That said, we accept that
the Reserve is now law and we will abide by the law. With so much change taking place within the Force, it is sometimes difficult to keep abreast of events. We welcome the
Ombudsman Commission and hope and trust that it will be just, fair and respect human rights, including those of our members. We also welcome the Inspectorate which is assured of our support.
Since last Conference we have made comprehensive submissions on many issues – discipline, whistleblowers etc. Towards 2016 and Benchmarking are key ongoing issues, our pay must keep apace and not be allowed to drift behind. This area is being closely monitored as we
have committed to Benchmarking II despite the paltry amount awarded in Benchmarking I. The restrictions under which we operate are oppressive – no right of access to the Labour Court, an
ineffective Conciliation & Arbitration scheme, an internal Partnership process which seems to overlook issues when it suits. We will battle on because our resolve to fight injustice and
protect our members’ rights remains steadfast.
To John Greene, Secretary of the Garda Siochana Benevolent Trust Fund,
John Brosnan of St Paul’s Medical Aid Society, our Welfare Officers, Peer Supporters, St Raphael’s and St Paul’s Garda Credit Unions and the Garda Survivors Support Association, I
wish to extend a sincere thank you for the assistance you have given to the members of An Garda Siochana and their families. To our colleagues in Garda Management at Garda Headquarters, and to
our opposite numbers on the Garda Side at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I want to acknowledge the help and assistance you have afforded the Association during the year.
I must pay tribute to both the Standing Orders Committee under the
Chairmanship of Brian McGovern and the Conference Arrangements Committee under the Chairmanship of P J Ruddy. Without their dedicated efforts throughout that past year, this Conference would not be
possible. I wish to thank both Committees and our Trustees for the dedicated work put in by them throughout the past twelve months.
Since elections last year, Dermot O’Donnell, former President,
retired from the Force and we wish him well. We have also lost delegates from since our last year’s Conference through retirement. I wish them all a long, happy and active
retirement.
Sadly, since our last Conference a number of our members have gone to
their eternal reward, in particular, the late Brian Kelleher, RIP, a former delegate to Conference and who was tragically killed during the course of his duty. To their families, I extend our
deepest condolences at this time.
John Egan
President
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