Social Democrats TD and justice spokesperson Gary Gannon has said that Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has failed to meaningfully engage with Gardaí on the staffing crisis.
On Monday, the general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) told RTÉ that members of the force feel “voiceless” in major decisions impacting their terms and conditions of employment, a situation which has stemmed from “completely inadequate consultation.”
“Statements like this from Garda representatives directly contradict the narrative being pushed by the Minister for Justice,” Gannon said.
“While oversight and accountability mechanisms are vital and must be upheld, there is something seriously wrong when Garda representatives are taking to the national airwaves to say their members feel like ‘second-class citizens’. This level of disillusionment is fuelling a collapse in morale and accelerating an already alarming crisis in recruitment and retention.”
Statistics from the AGSI found that 109 gardaí have left the force in the first 3 months of 2025.
“Against this backdrop, how can Minister O’Callaghan seriously claim that putting 5,000 additional gardaí on our streets is even remotely achievable?” Gannon asked.
“These are not political criticisms – they are coming directly from gardaí themselves. The very people the Minister claims to support are telling him that morale is collapsing and the culture within the force is deteriorating.”
“But instead of listening, he is turning a blind eye; this is a complete failure of leadership.”
The Dublin Central TD said “at a time when the force is struggling to recruit and retain members, the Minister must understand that people will not join – or remain in – an organisation where they feel disrespected, overburdened, and unheard.”
“The Minister’s decision not to attend the upcoming Garda Representative Association (GRA) conference is a mistake – but his continued refusal to act on the serious concerns being raised by gardaí across the country is even more damaging.
“The government cannot continue to bury its head in the sand while morale collapses and the force haemorrhages experienced members. We urgently need real reform, real investment, and real leadership.”