An Garda Síochána to reduce overtime amid industrial action threats

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has announced that overtime for An Garda Síochána will be shortly reduced following complaints from the Garda Representative Association (GRA). The GRA has reported that members have been working up to 16-hour days continuously to manage demands, including preparations for Ireland’s upcoming EU Council Presidency.

In response to concerns regarding working conditions and the erosion of entitlements, GRA members have voted in favor of work-to-rule industrial action. This measure, scheduled around the EU Presidency events from 10 November to 14 November, involves officers strictly adhering to existing contracts and refusing discretionary work. The GRA has urged members to report to home stations rather than traveling to duty points via private vehicles if they are stationed more than 100km away.

The reduction in overtime and the potential for further industrial action, including a possible withdrawal of services, raise concerns regarding policing capacity. The upcoming EU Presidency requires extensive security, traffic management, and protection for visiting officials, tasks that typically rely on flexible staffing and additional hours.