Mattie McGrath demands debate on Gaudi recruitment and support
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about Gaudi recruitment and retention, urging a full-scale debate and more on-the-ground resources. He criticised current levels of support and noted the government's recruitment target while referencing planned parliamentary time on housing.
Gaudi recruitment and resignation trends
Mattie McGrath warned that "130s left last year, this year the same trend is continuing," arguing that recruitment and retention are under pressure. He highlighted the target to recruit 1,000 additional Gaudi this year and said he is confident recruits will exceed retirements and resignations, producing a net increase in Gaudi numbers.
Calls for resources, respect and oversight
He said Gaudi need more resources on the ground to deal with tuggery and criminality and mentioned measures like body cams. He stressed that above all they need respect and support from this House, the Minister for Justice and from the Commissioner, whom he believes is not adequately supporting them in areas where they are scarce.
Parliamentary time and housing debate
McGrath noted advice from the Whip that 15 hours in total will be allocated to debating housing and the end of the winter eviction moratorium. He described 15 hours as a lot and said it should be enough, while allowing deputies and parties the freedom to use their own time this week or after the Easter recess to continue discussion if they wish.
Procedural outcome
He put the question on the proposed arrangements for the week's business. After a series of responses recorded in the House, the question was carried, concluding the immediate procedural matter.
Keywords included: Gaudi recruitment, resignations, retirements, resources on the ground, body cams, Minister for Justice, Commissioner, housing, winter eviction moratorium, 15 hours debate
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I see our Taoiseach, what are we going to do to get more Gaudi to join our force and to make it safe and secure that Gaudi in the force will stay the course, 130s left last year, this year the same trend is continuing, it's just not safe anymore or it's not a career that they're happy in and we're not supporting them with proper supports, we're talking about body cams and such things like that, what they need is more resources on the ground to deal with tuggery and criminality, and they need above all respect and support from this House and the Minister for Justice and from the Commissioner, who I believe is not really supporting them in many areas where they're so scarce on the ground, so we need a full-scale debate on that issue in this House here. I'm advised by the Whip that over the last week and this week we'll have 15 hours in total debating this issue, debating the issue of housing and the end of the winter eviction moratorium, I think 15 hours is a lot. I think it's enough, but of course deputies and parties are free to use their own time this week and when we come back after Easter recess to discuss the issue if they wish to do further, but 15 hours is a lot of time for any debate, and we have a lot of other business and things on the agenda as well to do. In relation to Gaudi recruitment, again, something we'd be happy to provide time for, I don't think that's been discussed yet, our recruitment campaign has begun for this year, we set the target of recruiting 1,000 additional Gaudi or 1,000 new Gaudi this year, that's going to be tough, but that's what we're committed to doing, and we are confident that the number of Gaudi we recruit this year will exceed the number of retirements and resignations, so we will have more Gaudi, not less, this year. I should say that, while it might be unusual for the Gaudi, a resignation rate of about 1% from any organisation is not high, for most organisations across the public and private sector, resignation rates of 5% or 6% would be the norm, and for police forces across the world it's much higher. Thank you, Taoiseach. I'm now putting the question, the question is, that the proposed arrangements for this week's business be agreed to. Not agreed. Not agreed. Not agreed. The Chokhti are heave not tereshkin ober this fall. In agreement, Neil. Neil, vote all. The question is carried.
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