Fianna Fáil candidate in the European Election, Senator Niall Blaney, is calling on the Justice Minister to reverse her decision to not attend this week’s Garda Representative Association (GRA) Conference.
The Donegal Senator said instead of turning down the invitation, the Minister should be seeking to resolve the breakdown in relations between the Commissioner and rank-and-file Gardaí.
Senator Blaney, who is seeking election in the Midlands-North West constituency, said: “It is a shame the Minister won’t be at the conference to hear at first hand the deeply held views of the GRA.
“We have a problem, and it is up to the Minister to show leadership and use her office to repair relations. Turning down the GRA invitation is not the way to proceed. The Minister, by rejecting the invitation, is merely adding fuel to the fire.
“Her place is at the conference and not taking sides in this dispute between the GRA and the Garda Commissioner, who is not invited to the conference. The situation is intolerable, and I believe the Minister should reverse her decision and attend.
“She is not some by-stander but a central figure who should be doing all she can to fix what’s broken.
“We need all sides working together – Minister, the Commissioner and all Garda officers – to deal with the big challenges of combatting rural crime, drugs, organised crime gangs and general and unacceptable levels of crime.
“This row has to be resolved for the sake of An Garda Síochána and the public they serve.”
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