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Commissioner Callinan resigns with immediate effect
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Potential-Monke wrote: »I can have an opinion, but it has to be aired through the proper channels when it concerns Data Sensitive information, or issues and/or concerns about procedures or actions. I cannot use names, stations or figures which are only known internally on a public forum, be it here on boards, Facebook or to the media. If i'm in breach of the Data Protection Act, the Official Secrets Act or the Garda Code then management can quite rightly pursue me, and boards or any Irish run forum are legally obliged to provide them with my information (upon receipt of a sufficient warrant).
So, yes, i can have an opinion, as long as it doesn't breach any of the above, which severely limits my public opinion, as only a fool would think that these forums and all social media of members are not being monitored. Members have already got into trouble over Facebook and Twitter comments which can be seen as "conduct unbecoming of a member of An Garda Síochána". We are never off duty, and as such always have to represent ourselves in the best interests of the Force. One of the reasons why i rarely socialise in public anymore, for fear of a flippant comment made coming back to haunt me.
As for the phone being recorded, as source said, it's being happening for years, management were well aware, so i'd assume the Ministers for Defence were, but as long as it's not being used maliciously (which i insist they were not) then i can't see the issue. It's not feasible to inform every caller that the call is being recorded, as some people could be ringing with time sensitive information, or others could be put off ringing with information, even though we never pursue someone who wishes to give information confidentially.
How would you like to see AGS progressing in the future?
I understand that autonomy is required, so that they can be seen to be independent. That poses problems with accountability.
The secrecy required to carry out investigations etc. requires an enormous level of trust being put in serving members.
Whistle-blowing is seen as disgusting.
There seems to be a culture of loyalty above honesty.
There is a sense of having to tow the line or else.
I cannot see how any young guard, or indeed any principled long serving guard, could not end up either being moulded to conform to the current culture, or else end up burning out.
While certainly GSOC is required for reports of wrongdoing on behalf of gardai, there also needs to be some sort of independent body and process for gardai to air their own grievances.
Would you welcome an Independent Oversight Committee?
Would you welcome reform in the culture?
How would you propose such a thing could come about?
It is in ALL of our best interests to regain trust in AGS and the system, both for gardai and the public.
What would restore your morale? Certainly, pay-cuts must be a huge disincentive. I myself am not going to put my heart and soul into a job which pays a pittance.
I'd love to see things overhauled. It is undeniable that there are some brilliant and dedicated gardai, equally, I have unfortunately seen first hand, the dishonesty and collusion and mentality of ass-covering involved.
If we could have more of the former and less of the latter, we'd be sorted.
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How would you like to see AGS progressing in the future?
I understand that autonomy is required, so that they can be seen to be independent. That poses problems with accountability.
I would like, initially, to have more of a correspondence with the general public. A forum where the good work that gets carried out can be made available to the public. Maybe a section on the Garda website that outlines all the good work which otherwise goes unnoticed.The secrecy required to carry out investigations etc. requires an enormous level of trust being put in serving members.
Whistle-blowing is seen as disgusting.
Yes, there is an enormous level of trust, and trust which, in my opinion, is rightly given. As i keep saying in many threads on this forum, we are not all corrupt. And as pointed out above, there is no forum for people to see the good work we do, only when high-profile cases make it to the media. How can someone trust AGS if they can't see the good work that's being done? I myself get praise (albeit very occasionally from management) for the manner in which i carry out my duties (i may be one of the most photographed Gardaí as i never have an issue posing for a photo - it's excellent PR work imo).There seems to be a culture of loyalty above honesty.
There is a culture of loyalty. We work shoulder to shoulder every day and rely on the colleagues beside, behind and in front of us. But within that loyalty, there is an understanding that in order to be loyal, we have to be honest and not put each other in a situation where we may have to decide between one or the other. I can state quite clearly that i have never been put in that position, and that if people think i am being loyal over honest, then they are wrong. My life is not worth a prisoner sentence over covering up for someones idiotic mistakes, or their need to asset themselves with violence. Everything my colleagues and I do is legal, and we can honestly stand behind our loyalty, because we don't have to lie for each other. This kind of behaviour, loyalty and honesty together, is far more common than what the public perceive.There is a sense of having to tow the line or else.
Every new member wants to fit in. You have to work with these people day in and day out, and are the only people you can genuinely rely on in violent situations. Some may seem to think you need to turn a blind eye to misdemeanors, but the truthful story is that in every situation i've been in, i've never had to tow the line, my colleagues don't put me in that situation, nor do they put any new members in that situation. And anyone that does, before anything severe happens (and what i mean is saying something in the wrong tone or in a manner likely to be taken out of context), is taken aside and spoken to. It doesn't happen again, and i've never been witness to anything which would promote gross misconduct, corruption, or anything else.I cannot see how any young guard, or indeed any principled long serving guard, could not end up either being moulded to conform to the current culture, or else end up burning out.
It is hard, but it's only with the support and understanding of your colleagues that it can work. See a trend starting to appear?While certainly GSOC is required for reports of wrongdoing on behalf of gardai, there also needs to be some sort of independent body and process for gardai to air their own grievances.
Would you welcome an Independent Oversight Committee?
Would you welcome reform in the culture?
How would you propose such a thing could come about?
Yes, and independent oversight committee is needed. We need to remove politics from the force, and it is wide open to misconduct, corruption, etc. Politics have no place in the security of the nation, and an IOC would (hopefully) prevent that. While it would be necessary to have a Commissioner who has gone up through the ranks, it should also be assigned on merit over anything else. The culture is not what the media and public believe it to be. As i said above, there is a sense of loyalty, because in the end it is us against them (ie: Gardaí against the criminals) and they have more protection from the state than we do. And such a thing might come about very soon, and i will most definitely be voting for it.It is in ALL of our best interests to regain trust in AGS and the system, both for gardai and the public.
What would restore your morale? Certainly, pay-cuts must be a huge disincentive. I myself am not going to put my heart and soul into a job which pays a pittance.
Restore morale? That will take a lot. Personally, i would require confidence from our management, increased numbers in a time when it is critically low, better personal protection equipment, better protection from civil cases against us for carrying out our duties legally, support from management, purpose built cars. Simple enough ideas that should be the norm. Money, well i wouldn't say no to getting back all that has been taken off me in the last few years. I don't even want more pay, but what i am entitled to before all these cuts. It's a well paid job, if you don't have loans/a mortgage, but very few don't. We are like everyone else, we are feeling the crunch and are constantly a target for more cuts. And many people can be heard say that they wouldn't do it for the money we get. I wouldn't blame them. I wanted to do my part for my country, and it was either the Army or the Gardaí (i'm not a "Tiocfaidh ár lá" guy, just wanted to do my bit). I picked the Gardaí as i believed it would afford me more freedom. I was wrong.I'd love to see things overhauled. It is undeniable that there are some brilliant and dedicated gardai, equally, I have unfortunately seen first hand, the dishonesty and collusion and mentality of ass-covering involved.
If we could have more of the former and less of the latter, we'd be sorted.
Thank you for recognising that there are good Gardaí, and i appreciate that there are bad ones. But with the way accountability has gone, you are indeed going to get more of the former and less of the latter. But it will take time, and some new procedures.
AGS is literally a very large family. You have your immediate family, ie: those you are stationed with (can be small or large, depending on your station). You would literally do anything for them, within the limit of the law, and they would do the same for you, as if they were your brothers and sisters. Then you have your extended family, or cousins if you will, and that would be the rest of the force. Some you could count as your immediate family, others are distant relatives. You would do more for your immediate family than you would your distant relatives. And then you've the likes of Callinan and Co. who are the uncles and aunts you never liked.0 -
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Potential-Monke wrote: »And then you've the likes of Callinan and Co. who are the uncles and aunts you never liked.
LOL I hear you, I think I'd like my aunty Noirín though.
Potential-Monke for commissioner
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