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Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris during a media briefing in 2020 Alamy Stock Photo

Garda Commissioner: GRA vote 'like a kick in the teeth' but says he will not resign

The justice minister said the decision to pursue a “personalised ballot” was “regrettable” and called for “talking and negotiating” to resolve the dispute.

LAST UPDATE | 13 Sep 2023

GARDA COMMISSIONER DREW Harris has described the landslide no confidence vote in his leadership by rank and file gardaí as a “kick in the teeth”. 

Drew Harris was speaking in Kildare this afternoon and called the result a “bitter blow”. 

Earlier this afternoon, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) announced that its members voted overwhelmingly to express no confidence in the commissioner, with 98.7% of the 85% member turnout voting ‘no’, a record return for the GRA. 

At the press conference announcing the result of the vote, GRA leadership cited a number of issues affecting their members, including staff retention, a “toxic” atmosphere, oversight processes, suspensions and rostered hours. 

Harris defended his post as Commissioner and denied that the gardaí were in a “crisis” .

“I am hugely disappointed – it feels like a real kick in the teeth.

“The thing about this is that I am employed to do a job – I am employed to protect the people of Ireland, I am employed to use our resources to maximise the protection for the people of Ireland and that means a change of roster. 

“The message today we are continuing the course that we are on and return to the agreed roster,” he said. 

When asked will he resign in response to the no confidence ballot result he said: “The answer is an emphatic no. That would be a completely illogical response to the situation that we face.”

The Commissioner said that he believed that the membership of the Garda Representative Association were confused about the question.

“Trust doesn’t come into it. It  is unclear what they were voting for, I think. I believe that they felt they were voting on the decision to go back to the original roster,” he added. 

Harris said that he will continue to offer a negotiation for a new roster. 

“There is a lot of good going on in the organisation and I feel the GRA are creating a distorted picture of what is happening in An Garda Síochána,” he added.  

Harris said that he does not believe that coming from Northern Ireland was forming part of the reason for the vote but added: “I cannot speak to the motivations of others”. 

The GRA had raised concerns around a claim of overbearing discipline issues that this forms part of the reasons why there is such discontent in the organisation.

In response Harris said: “We take a very measured approach to discipline”. 

Minister comments

Meanwhile Minister Helen McEntee speaking also in Kildare appealed to the GRA to return to negotiations. 

“I think this vote is regrettable, we are in the middle of industrial relations dispute, the GRA themselves have said this is around rosters and I have said consistently the only way to deal with the matter is for people to get around the table. 

“I believe this is a very personalised route that has been taken,” she said. 

McEntee said that she believed that the Commissioner’s position “is tenable” and that the Government as a whole has support for Harris’ position.

The Minister said she has no role in deciding on rostering and said it was only a matter for the Commissioner. 

Currently there is no full time appointed official managing Human Resources in An Garda Síochaána – the current manager is in an acting position.

McEntee denied that this had any role in the current industrial dispute. 

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141 Comments
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    Mute david whelan
    Favourite david whelan
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    May 24th 2012, 11:13 PM

    Always loved this painting. Has a special meaning for me. I believe the vote reflects the deeply romantic nature of the Irish.

    188
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    Mute Richard Crompton
    Favourite Richard Crompton
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    May 24th 2012, 11:32 PM

    What a tart you sound!

    71
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    Mute david whelan
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    May 24th 2012, 11:37 PM

    Wow Richard, what a wonderful contribution.

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    Mute Popcorn
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    May 25th 2012, 9:40 AM

    That painting should be renamed. “Does my arse look big in this” would be more appropriate.

    14
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    Mute Carmel Darcy
    Favourite Carmel Darcy
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    May 24th 2012, 11:30 PM

    I’m so delighted that this painting won the nations favourite! I have always loved it! A truly stunning piece.

    113
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    Mute Irish Mule
    Favourite Irish Mule
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    May 24th 2012, 11:39 PM

    what an amazing piece, it really encapsulates such a romantic moment.

    63
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    Mute Dave O'Shea
    Favourite Dave O'Shea
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    May 24th 2012, 11:51 PM

    Overrated , like guggi, friends to the stars

    50
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    Mute alan
    Favourite alan
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    May 25th 2012, 12:09 AM

    ‘Sales of merchandise relating to all the shortlisted paintings had “doubled” and sales of merchandise relating to the winning painting had increased fourfold on the same period in 2011.’

    That’s great news. Exit through the gift shop.

    44
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    Mute Lynne Tunney
    Favourite Lynne Tunney
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    May 25th 2012, 7:48 AM

    “Exit through the gift shop” wasn’t that Banksy though???

    14
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    May 25th 2012, 9:18 PM

    @Lynne: It was indeed a movie about Banksy’s work. Also a well-known phrase associated with museums and galleries that has been used on signs long before Banksy was learning about finger-painting in primary school.

    1
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    Mute Adam Magari
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    May 24th 2012, 11:24 PM

    What an unimaginative choice.

    41
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    Mute david whelan
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    May 24th 2012, 11:28 PM

    Adam sometimes you need to see beyond the obvious to see the true beauty of a work of art – beauty is truth and truth beauty.

    99
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 24th 2012, 11:41 PM

    Adam maybe you should find a bit of imagination.

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    Mute Heywood Jablome
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    May 25th 2012, 2:28 PM

    Should be renamed “Girl pukes in the corner while her fella wipes his nose on her sleeve”

    6
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    Mute Marko Burns
    Favourite Marko Burns
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    May 24th 2012, 11:48 PM

    Yawn. Sentimental biscuit tin art with nothing to say. More an illustration than a painting.

    41
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    Mute david whelan
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    May 24th 2012, 11:55 PM

    Marko you could not be more wrong. Sometimes you have to open your heart as well as you eyes to see the true beauty in a painting.

    58
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    Mute KhublaMcCann
    Favourite KhublaMcCann
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    May 25th 2012, 12:06 PM

    Marko’s right, this is turgid overly sentimental chocolate box schmaltz that seeks to ape the very derivative Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood of our erstwhile colonial ‘betters’. Bourgeois bourgeois boosh-wah

    10
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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    May 24th 2012, 11:50 PM

    It’s a pity the format wasn’t more professional, they dragged it out so much so that people were forgetting what artworks were on the week before, coud have done it over a fortnight , made it more exciting but any advertisement for art is good….. Worthy winner and unless you have seen it ya really can’t comment.

    40
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    Mute Katherine Carroll Callow
    Favourite Katherine Carroll Callow
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    May 25th 2012, 12:13 AM

    A stunning piece capturing a truly romantic stolen moment..worthy winner!

    39
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    Mute Sheep
    Favourite Sheep
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    May 25th 2012, 12:14 AM

    No pictures of sheep. Blah….

    25
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    Mute John Conniffe
    Favourite John Conniffe
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    May 25th 2012, 12:41 AM

    Boarding for Transcentral….

    1
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    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
    Favourite Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    May 25th 2012, 1:03 AM

    I love this painting, it tells a story.. And we all know that the Irish are great story tellers.

    23
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    Mute JibberIrish
    Favourite JibberIrish
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    May 25th 2012, 12:04 AM

    The essence of all beautiful art, and all great art, is gratitude. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

    22
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    Mute Lynne Tunney
    Favourite Lynne Tunney
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    May 25th 2012, 7:51 AM

    I’m really pleased that Ireland’s Favourite Painting is actually an Irish painting

    21
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    Mute Deirdre Bennett
    Favourite Deirdre Bennett
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    May 25th 2012, 8:50 AM

    If a painting, drawing, illustration or sculpture (all art forms) can stir an emotion then it is meeting it’s intended purpose. It is a very beautiful painting, pure romanticism.

    17
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    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
    Favourite Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    May 25th 2012, 9:25 AM

    Well said Deirdre.. :-)

    8
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    Mute Sandra Cox
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    May 25th 2012, 12:34 AM

    I saw this painting in a restaurant in Corofin Co Clare and fell in love with it no surprise it won the vote

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    Mute Adrian Nolan
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    May 25th 2012, 1:24 AM

    Whats that big thing sticking out by his left elbow?

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    Mute e
    Favourite e
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    May 25th 2012, 2:35 AM

    His helmit.

    20
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    Mute Dexter Gordon
    Favourite Dexter Gordon
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    May 25th 2012, 8:12 AM

    His what?

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    Mute Adrian Nolan
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    May 25th 2012, 9:55 AM

    His Helmet???? It seems our Pepe Le Pew must really like kissing ladies arms!

    1
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    Mute Roddie Cleere
    Favourite Roddie Cleere
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    May 25th 2012, 8:32 AM

    You can sense their yearning. Good winner

    15
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    Mute Dhakina's Sword
    Favourite Dhakina's Sword
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    May 25th 2012, 10:06 AM

    You could easily glance at this painting and not notice its subtle beauty. It’s not beautiful in the obvious pretty sense. Its charm is deeper. The contrast of the soldier trained to fight, displaying the opposite emotion of love, while dressed for battle, is powerful. The object of his attention coyly goes past him, but still allows the soldier to steal a brief moment together. You could be cynical and say it’s corny, but I think it sends out amongst other ideas, that love is the most powerful force in the world.

    14
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    Mute Deirdre Bennett
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    May 25th 2012, 12:58 PM

    @Dhakina….that was eloquently put :)

    3
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    Mute Sandra Cox
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    May 25th 2012, 12:37 AM

    I live in Corofin and saw this painting in a Restaurant there. Fell in love with it no surprise it won the vote I didn’t realise the painter is from Corofin too!

    13
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    Mute John F
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    May 25th 2012, 8:14 AM

    Ah this Takes me back, Was printed on the front cover of the Junior Cert English book in the 90′s , Reflections was the name of the book I think! :-)

    11
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    Mute Michael Stamp
    Favourite Michael Stamp
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    May 25th 2012, 10:08 AM

    Delighted it won. It hangs in repro in the Registry Office and thousands of people (myself included) have made their vows underneath it. Suprised it won as well. . .Expected something more ‘modern’ to appeal to our art-loving people.

    9
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    Mute Anastasia Ryan
    Favourite Anastasia Ryan
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    May 25th 2012, 9:49 AM

    This might help people who are finding it hard to see the romance in the painting:

    http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/people/meeting_of_turret_stairs.htm

    It has a part of the Danish poem the painting is based on. I’ve loved this picture forever and always will :)

    6
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    Mute Ally Sommer
    Favourite Ally Sommer
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    May 25th 2012, 12:22 PM

    A beautiful piece of art – delighted it won.

    4
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    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
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    May 26th 2012, 2:29 PM

    Check out the story on which the painting is based…it’s fascinating.

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    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
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    May 26th 2012, 2:32 PM
    2
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    Mute Alastair Langwell
    Favourite Alastair Langwell
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    May 26th 2012, 8:11 PM

    Weird – a print of this painting is on my bedroom wall. Seriously.

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    Mute Dermot Mulqueen
    Favourite Dermot Mulqueen
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    May 26th 2012, 9:37 AM

    My painting ‘Mother and Child’ should have been considered.

    If it had been short-listed, it might have won it ?.

    When it comes to Culture,and Art, it is all about being afforded the platform, and the endorsements.

    1
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    Mute Lewis Kelly
    Favourite Lewis Kelly
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    May 25th 2012, 3:15 PM

    Ride on. See you. I could never go with you, No matter how I wanted to.

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    Mute Andrew Clavin
    Favourite Andrew Clavin
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    May 25th 2012, 3:53 PM

    now that it has won it will be representing us at the next eurovision right?

    1
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