Garda supervisors are ‘responsible for what goes on on their watch’

Garda supervisors and managers are “responsible for what goes on on their watch”, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has told the Association of Garda Superintendents (AGSI).

Speaking at AGSI’s annual delegate conference, Ms Fitzgerald addressed the “recent controversy” over mandatory alcohol tests (MATs) and fixed charge notices (FCNs).

She said: “The MATs issue, at face value, raises potentially serious ethical and cultural issues for the Garda Síochána.

“I have said before and I say it again here today, this is not about blame. It is though, about responsibility. It is about doing the right thing. It is about how we go about our business.

“I don’t need to tell you, as managers in An Garda Síochána, that supervisors and managers are responsible for what goes on on their watch.

“We need to find out what happened, why it happened, and make sure it never happens again. As Superintendents, you have a clear role to play in this.”

Ms Fitzgerald also spoke about the progress of legislation giving gardaí access to the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court.

She said: “I know that your Association has met the Working Group chaired by John Murphy and you have been invited to make a written submission.

“Whatever the shape of the legislation that emerges, it is abundantly clear that the industrial relations architecture in An Garda Síochána must be sufficiently robust to address legitimate grievances when they arise and be fair in how it deals with those.

“It must also reflect the unique nature of policing and the reliance that citizens place on members of An Garda Síochána to protect them 24/7, 365 days of the year.

“It is important that we get this right and I welcome the constructive approach that your Association has taken to this work.”