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BORDER GARDAÍ ARE “completely unprepared” for Brexit and have not once been briefed on the potential policing implications that a hard or soft border would cause, a garda representative has claimed.
Rank-and-file members are more than conscious that the border issue has not been resolved and are calling on Garda HQ to start disseminating contingency plans to local stations.
The division of Cavan/Monaghan is one of the worst affected, according to Garda Representative Association (GRA) member James Morrisroe. A lack of new recruits coming through their doors means that not only do gardaí have to contend with the unknown of Brexit, they are also dealing with a general lack of resources.
Morrisroe drew attention to the need for new recruits to boost ranks in his local division.
Probationer gardaí are the new graduates out of Templemore who are sent to stations across the country to get experience. A lack of new recruits has been an ongoing issue for gardaí over the last few years. The recruitment freeze adopted during the recession is over but its impact is still being felt.
Probationer gardaí can only be assigned to stations where appropriate supervision is available leading to a catch 22 situation for Cavan/Monaghan as well as a host of other districts.
Something which was brought up at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference last week was the restrictions caused by a lack of sergeants based in stations.
There are just seven sergeants in Cavan’s Bailieboro district as opposed to 12 in 2010. The deficit is seriously impacting policing, according to Morrisroe.
“What you have at the moment is a lack of new recruits coming through. We can’t get the probationers coming because we don’t have the sergeants to supervise them so we’re stuck in limbo.
“Because you’ve no new members coming in - morale is suffering. You look at Bailieboro especially. The morale there is very low in relation to previous inquiries.
“Local management is doing its best. But how can senior management in Garda Headquarters in Dublin not be conducting any succession planning (to maintain garda numbers)? They know we’ll need a certain amount of sergeants and gardaí in the near future yet nothing is happening. This also affects the allocation to specialists units which were decimated during the moratorium on recruitment.
But Morrisroe is not holding out too much hope. It is his opinion that the border region is somewhat neglected in relation to the allocation of resources.
“One only has to look at recent tensions north of the border to realise the importance of properly resourcing gardai in the border divisions and this is even without the added complicated issue of Brexit.”
Brexit pressure
It is his fear and the fear of his colleagues that when Brexit finally arrives, An Garda Síochána will be in no way prepared to deal with it. This is not the only major issue for gardaí.
Morrisroe said: “Brexit is a big example – in a year it’s here whether we like it or not. Even without Brexit we need more garda graduates. I know it’s said all the time but we’re at crisis point. What would it be like for argument’s sake if it’s a soft border with periodic checks? It’s not like they don’t know this was coming. Action is needed and quick. The bottom line is we are completely unprepared.
“I recall the foot and mouth and BSE crises of 1996 and 2001 where the border was sealed overnight. Hundreds of gardai were temporarily transferred from as far away as Cork for the duration of the operation. Is this the potential scenario that will unfold? One wonders if contingency plans are being drawn up at all.
Responding to the claims, a Garda spokesman said: “Local garda management closely monitors the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level, to ensure optimum use is made of garda resources, and the best possible farda service is provided to the public.
“Senior garda management is satisfied that an adequate policing service continues to be delivered and that current structures in place meet the requirement to deliver an effective and efficient policing service to the community. This situation is continually reviewed.”
I’ll correct the headline ” Eir to add 200,000 disappointed and frustrated customers”
@Fergus Murphy: 2.3MBS measured this morning on my Eir internet line. I live in a town and don’t have fibre. I called them recently to find out when high speed internet will be available. The guy on the phone told me to contact my local TD as it would speed things up.
One useless waster advising me to contact another useless waster.
@Fergus Murphy: for sure, unless 1.2 or less usually is acceptable.
@David Corrigan: actually, my estate had a fibre cabinet installed and sat there for 6 months which hadn’t gone live. Emailed all my local representatives, and within 2 weeks it had gone live. You’d be surprised how effective a well worded email is.
@David Corrigan: try get Starlink. I got it in a few weeks ago. Getting up to 300mbps.
@neuromancer: well-worded
@Fergus Murphy: So true Their customer service is appalling.
@David Corrigan: The Eir guy may have a point! In the town I live in, one estate suddenly received Fibre To The Home from Eir earlier this year (and the rest of the town are still waiting and will be for a while). It turns out it was because a TD lives in it and that TD reached out to Eir and, voila!
@P.S. I Hate You: you must work for starlink. €500 for hardware and €61 shipping. Then €100 a month subscription. To sign up today I have to pay €561.
As per starlink’s own website “During beta, users can expect to see data speeds vary from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s”
So where are you getting 300mps?, starink is satellite broadband which doesn’t come down at 300mps, if it did the starlink website would most definitely say it.
@Fergus Murphy: wouldn’t touch them EVER again – not even with a barge pole……
@Paul Quirke: Glad you pointed that out, now everyone can rest tonight.
@Mark Dit: is he telling porkies??
@Mark Dit: im getting over 300mbps on occassion never goes below 100mbps. I got it cause it’s my only option. I use ookla for my speed tests. better to under promise and over deliver. I’m happy with my service that’s the main thing.
@Mark Dit: here is a copy of my speed results.
https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/2EG4HX2P3O13/screenshot-20210716-230722-speedtest.jpg
Still wouldn’t go near them in a million years after the horror stories iv heard about their customer service.
@Chris Forde: To be fair its not a bad service problems arise when you have to contact them for any issues
@Chris Forde: and all true.
@Chris Forde: yes their customer service was abysmal could be an hour on hold. They seemed to have overhauled it in last couple of months after complaints in Dail. Recently onto them, through to someone within 5 minutes.
Avoid Eir at all costs.
They need to invest in their existing products and customer service department. Absolute shambles. I’ll never deal with them again after my previous experiences.
Ours is still painfully slow and we are 5 miles from O’Connell St. No fibre here.
Great free advertising for Eir. Just don’t get a mobile phone on that network.
@Shane McGrath: why not Shane ? I’m with them a number of years and I’ve been many places around Ireland and had very few coverage black spots I’ve had people with other networks and they’ve had issues. And if I’m a place that has bad coverage but has wifi I can use wifi calling. I’d bet this article was about other service providers people on here would still be moaning. IT’s because Eir made mistakes they’ve rectified some of them like the customer service depart very little waiting now but other issues still exist.
@Shane McGrath: What they did to Meteor’s service is criminal.
You must not use your mobile often or have not needed customer service.
@Contrary Mary: get if the train in Dublin 5 abs signal drops to one bar, if people call you they get voicemail. Was with them for two weeks. Horrendous.
@Contrary Mary: sorry Mary just getting back to you now I was on the phone. But yes I’m on the phone a lot every day in various locations and a lot of the time I have 4G coverage and yes I was onto customer service last week to renew my broadband/mobile contract and only waited less than 5 mins to be connected. Years ago I was with VF mobile only that was shocking 1 bar 3G at home go 1km up the road very little coverage and I’m in Wexford town plus I was paying a scaldy bill too. I’m also fully aware of how networks operate in terms of coverage and I know all the cell towers around me.
@: you 100 percent are sitting in an eir office. I don’t think anyone believes that
@Mark Dit: I’m definitely not sat in an Eir office but I am sat in my office editing photos as per my profession and just tested my broadband speed 454.2 download 33.3 upload and full 2 bars of 4G indoors closest mast to me is 3km in an industrial park. So I’ve no issues never have.
Only a matter of a quick phone call to them and they’ll sort it. Sure sure sure!!!!
@Paul Bracken: Took me 3 phone calls to cancel a service I never received. Swear to god the 3rd phone call to them I was in Cyprus standing on my hotel balcony and according to the guy on the phone I was lying. Eirs installation team are at my address as we spoke and they had me sign there tablet to confirm delivery and installation of the router he can see this on there “live” so I can’t cancel as I’m obviously happy with the service. It took a trip to the hotel reception and a chat with the receptionist for the eir customer service team to accept I was infact in Cyprus. Absolute joke of a company.
@Roy Dowling: a55hole company
The fibre/broadband network is so poor. Parents live in north cork near a big town and the broadband fails every second day because the line in damaged. Eir did nothing despite multiple complaints over 2 years. They’re now using 4g for the house.
@Ed Quinlan: try Starlink
@P.S. I Hate You: you must work for starlink. €500 for hardware and €61 shipping. Then €100 a month subscription. To sign up today I have to pay €561.
As per starlink’s own website “During beta, users can expect to see data speeds vary from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s”
So where are you getting 300mps?, starink is satellite broadband which doesn’t come down at 300mps, if it did the starlink website would most definitely say it and not 150mps
@Mark Dit: results
https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/2EG4HX2P3O13/screenshot-20210716-230722-speedtest.jpg
@Mark Dit: Starlink is a game changer, got mine nearly 2 weeks ago, DL speed of 275 MBs. Fed up of switching providers only to be let down time and again.
@Will Bourke: spot on mate. Worth noting the pricing will come down and speeds will increase when the beta phase is completed.
@Ed Quinlan: I have no probs with Eir at all and have my phone tv and broadband package.
Seems a reasonable deal as all works well.
Just wish I could get fibre as my speeds vary between 38 and 42mb.
Ironically, the Google API Key for the map on their fibrerollout.ie website has been expired for over a week now, so the maps won’t load – maybe they should call someone who knows IT?
They can’t manage what they have ffs.
Still trying to charge me for stuff a canceled a year ago
@Lets be real: Same hear despite a half a dozen phone calls and a Twitter conversation that assured me my old account was closed.
@Lets be real: same here
A business friend what’s just started up his own VR gaming business, asked Eir to supply broadband. “No problem. We can be with you in possibly two months.”
Friend said “No Thanks.”. He then rang “Three” …They set him up in THREE days with 600mb per sec’ broadband for his business. #EnoughSaid.
@Jeff Rudd: 3 are just another a55hole company to avoid….
Rang Eir twice last month about adding fibre broadband. Both operators didn’t know. One system saying they could another system saying they couldn’t. Promised they would get back to me with a definite. I won’t give anybody any guesses as to whether they did or not
Live in Drogheda. The nation’s official biggest town. No service here on one complete side and absolutely dire service on the other. Asked Eir when it’s possible to avail of a decent updated service. The reply was “Maybe next year – if you are lucky!”.
I’m getting 1.9mb yet Eir ring and try to sell me some high speed offer that’s not available. Pure false advertising and misleading customers is all there good at. I doubt other providers are any different
They cant look after theircexisting customers…. Customer Service .. zero
Had an Eir repair guy out recently after god alone knows how many phonecalls, told me not to bother renewing my contract with them as they’re absolutely useless, so I going to heed his advice, thanks Eir.
Has the ‘Air’ (pun ntended) of setting themselves up for another sale. Build up the connections on the books to inflate the value of the company.
I doubt there is another company in Ireland that has been pillaged as much as them through since privatisation.
I cant write what I would like too about them suffice to say they have cherry picked all the good locations and left the hard stuff to the public purse to pay for. In time honoured tradition this contract to complete the network had being given to a mate who has no experience in broadband networks. Enough said or the Journal wont print this.
On the one hand this is good news because I’m on gigabit with virgin media and they are the only provider who service my estate with those speeds and competition is a good thing. On the other hand its Eir and I’ve heard too many horror stories to give them any serious consideration.
Still, at least now I might be able to threaten to leave virgin when my contract is up for renewal. So, yay I guess?
@Ribeard Ó Fiachna:
I wouldn’t believe a word EIR say.
When there were discussions regarding the National Broadband tender being awarded all of a sudden they could supply a service despite them pulling out of the tendering process previously. They have been owned by so many owners that have only been interested in making a quick buck and no doubt the current owners are trying to do the same.
We have all the products and have only had a problem once, cable fault outside not bad for 20 years. 1901 was problematic however.
Will never get here in my lifetime…
Guys, don’t forget that it’s only Eircom wearing a different T-shirt. Just as b ad, just as un reliable, just as use less as ever. Does a leopard ever really change its spots. Eir, Let’s make possible … Line Up Suckers …..
I’m waiting 7 weeks for my connection and still no confirmation of date
Have eir gigabit and its excellent apart from the appealing customer service. Can’t fault their loyalty team tho, if you are a long term customer, they treat you well. Eir often gets a negative image from non fibre customers ( was once part of the gang) but their fibre extreme offering is excellent for advanced users
@Dawid Grzybowski: unfortunately not available everywhere or i would switch today. Ince it’s up and running no customer service contact needed
I moved from Eir to Virgin 15 or 20 years ago due to their abysmally bad customer care, slow speeds, high prices and ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude. It would take a lot for me to move back
Wish they would connect the older apartment buildings built like 20 years ago so that there is a cheaper alternative to virgin. Even that other service which uses the ESB network is cheaper but they won’t go into areas where there is already a fast connection(cable).
do my house pleeeeeeeeeease
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