Sullivan slams McEntee’s decision to avoid conference

NORTH Wexford Councillor and former Garda Joe Sullivan has expressed his disappointment at Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s decision not to attend the Garda Representative Association (GRA) annual delegate conference which took place in Westport, Mayo on Tuesday, April 23.

Minister McEntee’s decision comes after the GRA announced last month that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris would not be invited to the event.

“This course of action chosen by Minister McEntee clearly sets out the fact that she stands four square behind Commissioner Harris who is not invited, despite the fact that 98 per cent of rank and file Gardaí have no confidence in his leadership.”

“I believe that by attending this conference Minister McEntee would have had a perfect opportunity to meet with the ordinary front line members of An Garda Síochána and have them articulate their concerns in an open and frank manner without the presence of Commissioner Harris who, if one is to listen to on the job gardai, is contributing to the current low morale and general discontent amongst gardaí,” said Cllr Sullivan.

Cllr Sullivan said the current Garda Commissioner appears to be overzealous and rigid in his application of the rules, regulations and disciplinary procedures which is contributing to the unrest among the rank and file members. He went on to say that the GRA delegate conference could have been an opportunity for Minister McEntee to acquaint herself with these issues.

“I am firmly of the opinion that Minister McEntee’s course of action in this case is effectively taking sides. In this case, the management side against almost 11,000 men and women who on a daily basis put their lives on the line to ensure that we the citizens can live a peaceful life in the security and knowledge that they are there to protect us and our rights,” said Cllr Sullivan.