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Guns, handcuffs and summer shirts: Here's what they'll be talking about at the GRA conference

Alan Shatter won’t be there because he wasn’t invited, but we were so here are some of the issues we’ll be keeping an eye on.

DELEGATES WILL BE arriving at the Malton Hotel in Killarney, Co Kerry this evening for the annual Garda Representative Association conference which starts tomorrow morning.

The conference for the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) two weeks ago touched on issues like protection for whistleblowers and further provisions of tazers for gardaí. Just like the AGSI conference, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter will not be attending the GRA’s in Kerry – but this time it’s because he wasn’t invited.

He’ll be missing out on discussions of old favourites like pay and conditions under the Haddington Road Agreement, resourcing and recruitment, and garda morale after the GSOC controversy.

Apart from the obvious ones, here are some of the other key topics on the agenda for the two day conference that we’ll be keeping an eye on.

Julien Behal / PA Julien Behal / PA / PA

Guns: There will be a motion calling for members to receive tactical training in how to deal with various firearms incidents and familiarisation training in a range of weaponry that they might encounter.

xtremcamo xtremcamo

Driving: A review of the driving course allocation policy will be discussed and there will be a debate on the use of personal driving licences on duty.

Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Uniforms: The need for rigid-style handcuffs and an operational summer shirt (so they don’t have to wear a tie on hot days) will also be discussed.

PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Protest: Remember the clashes between gardaí and students at that protest in 2010? The GRA will be debating GSOC’s report which criticised An Garda Síochána’s handling of it and accused them of providing misleading and inaccurate information.

Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! / Photocall Ireland!

Safety: There will be a motion to highlight assaults on gardaí and demand that the Department of Justice publish statistics every year on numbers of assaults as well as action taken.

An Garda Síochána An Garda Síochána

Drunks: Delegates will also debate the legal implications of detaining intoxicated prisoners in garda stations.

Poverty Albert Gonzalez / Photocall Ireland Albert Gonzalez / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Recording: A motion is on the agenda to seek a change in legislation to remove the need for interviews to be written down when they’ve been electronically recorded.

We’ll be bringing you the latest news from the conference in Killarney over the next couple of days so keep your eyes peeled. You can also follow @michellehtweet for updates throughout the day. 

Related: Shatter not invited to GRA conference to avoid ‘giving him a platform for spin’>

Read: Garda bodies launch High Court challenge to sick pay changes>

Gardagate: Garda Representative Association says its members knew some calls were recorded>

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19 Comments
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    Mute Malachi
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    Mar 1st 2017, 1:46 PM

    You’d think after the exposition of the horrifyingly widespread child abuse carried out (and covered up) by those in the church they’d have a bit of humility.

    Sadly, all we’re seeing is a cover-up by the Vatican. This disgusting behaviour by Rome has surely resulted in many pedophiles facing no consequences for the lives they’ve ruined.

    I applaud this woman for even engaging with the Church in the first place after what she went through – that must’ve been so hard. The Vatican betrayed her attempts to seek justice. It’d make you sick to your stomach.

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    Mute The Throwaway
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    Mar 1st 2017, 1:58 PM

    Never mind humility, just a basic concept of humanity.

    Only the other week they were praising the virtues of the late cardinal as practically been instrumental in reforming child abuse. It didn’t really pull much weight though, and today’s article goes so far as say the same.

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    Mute Celtic Spirit
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    Mar 1st 2017, 1:57 PM

    I’m not surprised by this news. If the church have any hope of maintaining their faith let alone growing it, they much be seen to be proactive moving forward. The fact that this is not happening really demonstrates the denial of the church about the sincerity of the situation. They have have created their own downfall and I for one have no sympathy for them.
    However I do have massive sympathy for those that had to suffer at the hands of these twisted vile people. There are many that had to suffer in silence. Those voices will never be heard.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:03 PM

    Not surprised,
    The Vatican only care about one thing…them, nothing more.

    They don’t really care care about children and most certainly not abuse children or those sold by the church, they only care about money and the Vatican.

    87
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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:23 PM

    Fair play to her for trying, but what did she expect. They know what they did and they know what they are still doing. The voice one person (particularly a woman) in a chauvinistic religion was never going to make a difference.

    64
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:06 PM

    Having read and bookmarked this after the Murphy report, I can see where she is being stonewalled. As hard as it is to accept the reality, this is not new and it isn’t going to change if the church can help it. I think the victims deserve better. This was the American Catholic experience; https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/tom-doyle-addresses-priest-sex-abuse-survivors

    56
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    Mute Thomas McGilly
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:28 PM

    As a practising Roman Catholic, I am so frustrated and disgusted by the attitude which says canon law before people. It goes against everything that Christ taught.

    68
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    Mute Sean
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    Mar 1st 2017, 5:51 PM

    @Thomas McGilly: Then leave… oh wait you cant. The’ve removed that option too.

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    Mute Phil Swan
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    Mar 1st 2017, 6:46 PM

    Don’t be such an ass

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    Mute
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    Mar 1st 2017, 7:00 PM

    @Thomas McGilly: Really? The religious culture he was a part of wedded girls at puberty to men without their consent and he went as far as to validate such unions by banning divorce and saying whoever marries a divorced woman is an adulterer. Culture is no excuse for violation of a child nor is religion. You cannot expect senior clerics to care about the victims of abuse when the Bible condones it.

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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Mar 1st 2017, 3:21 PM

    I am closer to dying than looking forward to a long life but without fear I have abandoned all interest in or affiliation to the Church. My conscience simply would not allow me to respect such an organisation. If there is a God I truly believe He , She, or It, would understand and agree. Unfortunately, since this decision I am drawn towards observing the pomp and ceremony and elaborate and no doubt expensive dress within the Church with growing disdain and I regret not having seen through the facade throughout my life of allegiance to and respect for this organisation. It makes me feel bad every time I reflect on it. Wasted years living with a Lie

    49
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    Mute Ann Carroll
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    Mar 1st 2017, 5:10 PM

    I agree wholeheartedly. My faith was eroded until there was nothing. After all this lady has been through and the fact that she dedicated three years of her life to putting right disgusting abuse of innocent children, must be frustrating beyond measure. What can be done? I would not know where to start.

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    Mute
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    Mar 1st 2017, 7:04 PM

    @Ann Carroll: Everybody has faith even if it is just a vague hope that motivates you to do good for yourself and others. Religion merely tries to direct faith to suit itself. Look for faith and live it and you won’t need religion or anybody. Faith is natural.

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    Mute Daisy Daisy
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:11 PM

    When paedophiles and their protectors get walled up safely in the Vatican, it’s obvious that SFA will be done to purge rapists from the ranks of the catholic church. Francis is supposed to be running the shop and it’s seems he’s more impotent than infallible.

    Still, I suppose, god’s will and all that!

    66
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    Mute Gerry Ryan
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    Mar 1st 2017, 4:03 PM

    They made a safe house of the Vatican for the most vile type of humans, SS murderers, at the end of WW2 and facilitated an escape to South America.
    No perpetrator of crime that they’d condone, especially in vile human behaviour would surprise me.

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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 1st 2017, 1:39 PM

    Just to clarify.
    Marie Collins had high praise for Pope Francis’s efforts in dealing with issues of child abuse affecting the Church.
    I think we can all agree that Francis is demonstrating true leadership qualities on this matter.

    33
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    Mute Malachi
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    Mar 1st 2017, 1:51 PM

    Marie Collins also criticised Pope Francis for the “mercy” he showed recently to pedophiles in the church, deciding to reduce their punishments in a bizarre push for clemency for convicted child abusers. He even went back on defrocking an Italian priest, Mauro Inzoli – who despite his proven sexual abuse will remain a member of the priesthood.

    Marie had absolutely no time for this nonsense from Pope Francis. Let’s get all the facts out there, shall we?

    128
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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:06 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: do you think Pope Francis doing this is good leadership qualities. I don’t think so. This has recently been done….
    Pope quietly trims sanctions for sex abusers seeking mercy..
    Pope Francis has quietly reduced sanctions against a handful of pedophile priests, applying his vision of a merciful church even to its worst offenders in ways that survivors of abuse and the pope’s own advisers question.

    One case has come back to haunt him: An Italian priest who received the pope’s clemency was later convicted by an Italian criminal court for his sex crimes against children as young as 12. The Rev. Mauro Inzoli is now facing a second church trial after new evidence emerged against him, The Associated Press has learned.

    The Inzoli case is one of several in which Francis overruled the advice of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and reduced a sentence that called for the priest to be defrocked, two canon lawyers and a church official told AP. Instead, the priests were sentenced to penalties including a lifetime of penance and prayer and removal from public ministry.

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    Mute Jason Maguire
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:16 PM

    Hi there “Emmet”.

    32
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    Mute Daisy Daisy
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:19 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: How can he demonstrate leadership when his leadership isn’t followed by his own people? It demonstrates failure and impotence. As usual the PR pope is all talk and no action.

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    Mute Tony Le Blanc
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:28 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: I was going to post a question here asking how Breda O Brien will spin this into a pro church position. Your post answers the question for me.

    Much like O’Briens recent IT article where she offered an opinion on Desmond Connell as “general consensus is now that he was a good man” you offer the equally farcical “I think we can all agree that Francis is demonstrating true leadership”. Think again Sir.

    43
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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:44 PM

    Marie Collins:
    ‘”However, despite the Holy Father approving all the recommendations made to him by the Commission, there have been constant setbacks,- They have been directly due to the resistance by some members of the Vatican Curia to the panel’s work” she said in her letter of resignation.
    https://www.rte.ie/documents/news/resignation-from-the-pontifical-commission-for-the-protection-of-minors.pdf

    And remember, this is the same Vatican Curia which has been opposing many of the progressive reforms set forth by Pope Francis since his ordination.

    7
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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:50 PM

    @Jason Maguire:
    Hi Jayo.

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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:51 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: so no comment on what Pope Francis has recently done? . If he was genuine.. then why do this?
    Pope quietly trims sanctions for sex abusers seeking mercy..
    Pope Francis has quietly reduced sanctions against a handful of pedophile priests, applying his vision of a merciful church even to its worst offenders in ways that survivors of abuse and the pope’s own advisers question…..

    28
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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 1st 2017, 2:59 PM

    @LITTLEONE:
    Loo, I’m just clarifying Marie Collins position regards the role of Pope Francis in this commission.
    Take it or leave it.

    7
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    Mute Malachi
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    Mar 1st 2017, 3:04 PM

    “progressive reforms set forth by Pope Francis since his ordination”

    Do you mean the way he’s backsliding on punishing child abusers in the Church? Those progressive reforms?

    Sorry, you’ll have to be more specific. I personally don’t think giving “mercy” to pedophiles is progressive, but what can I say.

    34
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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Mar 1st 2017, 3:06 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: Because he approved the reccomendations doesn’t mean he genuinely was behind them. He is the face of the Catholic church after all , so looking like your genuinely behind something doesn’t mean you are . I am pointing out if he was genuine to which you claim he was then how could he grant clemency to priests quietly.. doesn’t add up. Happens all the time. Here great example be fully behind a commission and it’s reccomendations but deep down your not genuinely interested in it so behind the scenes, it’s different story…

    22
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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Mar 1st 2017, 3:10 PM

    As for your take it or leave comment Emmet. I will take it that Pope Francis pretends to the public , Catholic faithful he is genuine in regards to child abuse priests but privately and quietly he offers them clemency.. Because it’s exactly what’s happened…….

    22
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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Mar 1st 2017, 3:35 PM

    Emmet – he gave a child rapist priest a lifetime of prayer as punishment:

    http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pope-francis-reduces-penalties-paedophile-priests-lifetime-prayer-1608591

    29
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    Mute Ann Carroll
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    Mar 1st 2017, 5:14 PM

    Emmet O’Keefe. Is this a joke to you? Shame on you.

    12
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    Mute
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    Mar 1st 2017, 7:06 PM

    @Emmet O’Keeffe: No if Collins had hope the pope was going to do anything at some point she would not walk away. Don’t imply she was walking away from the problem just to defend that Francis.

    5
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    Mute
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    Mar 1st 2017, 7:07 PM

    @Paul Fahey: Ironic of him when he claims prayer is just a joyful relationship with God! Its a reward virtually if the priests are believers who do get addicted to prayer and love it.

    7
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    Mute
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    Mar 1st 2017, 7:10 PM

    @Malachi: If I do something terrible and somebody tells me that a God has forgiven me and I feel great then and feel holy again that is condoning if there is no God. Forgiveness from a non-existent God or one who has not forgiven at all amounts to risking condoning the evil – condoning is virtually rewarding evil.

    4
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    Mute Sean Doheny
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    Mar 2nd 2017, 11:54 AM

    I think she should be ordained a deacon and maybe they’d listen to her then

    1
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 1st 2017, 4:27 PM

    Pope Francis is insincere and only pays lip service. The Pope’s sole agenda is the protection of the power, wealth and influence of the institution of the Roman Catholic Church. That’s his real job.

    “Chist’s Vicar on Earth” should be doing something real but that description is only a cover for the real job.

    23
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    Mute The Crant
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    Mar 1st 2017, 11:41 PM

    @Tony Daly: He’s into your leftie green craic

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 1st 2017, 4:44 PM

    Global CEO of Roman Catholic Church Inc protects his profitable and powerful corporation

    16
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    Mute Brendan Hegarty
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    Mar 1st 2017, 7:15 PM

    The strategy of institutions is to hope it away, attrition, etc, one person passes away so cases fall down as they fail to reach the burden of proof, time is the best ‘cure’ - Church, Gardai, Tusla, Banks, Politicians, Regulators, etc - all doing what they are supposed to prevent and directed from the top.

    Solicitors are the root of it all as they advise them to deny, and they themselves are self regulated so they hear their own confessions.

    Ireland is rare in that we are the only developed country where this rules – Brazil locked up a fella over tickets yet we have suspects ruling over us – Current Garda Commissioner would be a good example. These comments are not allowed in The Indo -ah sure those who control it were condemned in The Tribunals too, a new club forming, for those who act with impunity we now pay hundreds of millions so they remain immune to prosecution, while us they continue to persecute! Where would you get it?

    10
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Mar 2nd 2017, 12:35 AM

    Anyone read, Windswept House by Fr. Malachi Martin… Evil spoilt mad gits.

    1
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    Mute The Crant
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    Mar 1st 2017, 6:00 PM

    I can’t believe the church can have such a Pope. He’s a leftie green monster

    1
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