ADDRESS OF MR DAN HANLEY,  OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GARDA SERGEANTS AND INSPECTORS TO THE 32ND ANNUAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE IN THE RADISSON HOTEL, GALWAY CITY ON MONDAY, 29th MARCH, 2010

Front, l to r - Deputy General Secretary John Redmond, Vice-President Eamon Landy, President Dan Hanley, Vice-President Aidan O'Donnell, General Secretary Joe Dirwan.

Back - Paul Wallace, E Donal Smyth, John Jacob, Eric Boyle, Michael Gormley, Padraic Dolan, Padraic Tully, Willie Gleeson.

Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Mr Dermot Ahern T.D, other distinguished guests, fraternal delegates, fellow delegates and friends.
Good evening to you all.

It’s a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to our 32nd annual delegate conference here in Galway.

I don’t need to tell you that the past year has been the most difficult and traumatic that we have had to endure in the entire 32 years that this conference has been in existence.  It has also been one where the dominant theme across the country is anger.  We are no exception Minister. In fact to describe our feelings as one of anger is probably an understatement.

Our main cause of anger, of course, is the savage unilateral cuts in our pay.  We have been subjected to an income levy, a pensions levy and a pay cut.  The Taoiseach on the Sunday News at One recently readily admitted that the levies were in fact a pay cut.  So the total reduction is in the order of 16%.  Savage by any standards.

On top of that we are denied the right to sit at the national negotiating table for pay agreements.  We are denied the right to affiliate to Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
We have no input into our pay and conditions so it begs the question Minister, why?  Why are we treated as second-class citizens when it comes to these issues?  We are good enough, and well capable of, taking on the criminal element in our society  but we are not deemed good enough to have a seat at the negotiating table.  Our members find this extremely difficult to swallow.

We have had of course the process of the so-called ‘parallel discussions’ whereby we are ‘briefed’ on the progress of the talks at the main table. In there we do have an input into the sectoral part of the agreement for An Garda Síochána.  Last November and December we participated in the parallel discussions for eight days, eight tough days during which we hammered out an agreement on the Transformation Agenda with the official side.  Then, all of a sudden, the Government pulled the rug out from under us.  A new way of doing business Minister – legislate instead of negotiate.

At the same time you protected the interests of the higher civil servants.  You factored back in their bonus before making the cuts, thereby minimising the hit they had to take.  That’s some notion of fairness and equality!

I will return to the subject of pay later colleagues but I will add here that the circumstances  I have outlined prompted us to take a leading role in the formation and policies of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance.  This Alliance was formed to fight for the interests of people like us who provide a service to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year.  We will continue to be part of the Alliance and we will continue to fight for our hard-won pay and conditions.

Retirements

An allied issue to pay is the accelerated number of retirements from the job – 800 last year, twice the usual rate. I have no hesitation in describing the treatment of our more senior members as they approach retirement age as shocking and inhuman.  For most of last year they were left in a type of limbo as the prospect that they would lose a large part of their gratuity to taxation or levies was leaked and speculated on in the media.  This was toying with people’s lives of the worst kind and we only have to contrast it with the excessive pensions which the politicians have granted themselves – many of them are drawing huge pensions while still working. In addition they get their Deputy’s salary which is by no means ungenerous.

The leaking and the speculation had the desired result as 800 people left the force last year, an unprecedented number.  This has resulted in the loss of a huge reservoir of experience – as well as throwing an additional workload on those of us who are left.

The only positive thing to emerge from the December budget was that people who retire this year will do so on the conditions available in 2009.  This can be extended by the Minister for Finance into future years, if he so wishes.  I appeal to you now Minister to ask him to give that extension in the interests of people who have spent their lives in the service of this state – and who place their lives on the line to protect this country.

Promotions

I want to thank you Minister for meeting us on 21st December last. At that meeting we told you that the Garda Síochána was running into serious trouble as a result of the huge increase in retirements, plus the embargo on promotions, and members were suffering doubly.  The embargo resulted in delayed promotions and those who had moved on promotion and transfer had to wait for prolonged periods to get back to their families. In addition many units had to go about their work without a supervisory sergeant – a sure recipe for trouble and complaints. 

We were delighted therefore when you subsequently announced that 120 sergeants and 28 inspectors would be promoted this year, plus consequent promotions.  The promotions you have approved will go some way towards alleviating those difficulties, and we do thank you for that announcement.

On an allied issue I have to say to you all that there is still serious dissatisfaction with the promotions and appointments practices within An Garda Síochána.  There is still a widespread perception that all promotions and appointments are not carried out in a fair and transparent manner.  This is in spite of the relatively new promotions system plus the members’ option to refer cases to the Public Appointments Commission.  We are familiar with the situation because we are still being placed in the position of having to insist to senior garda managers that they advertise and recruit for positions in accordance with the Code of Practice for Recruitment and Appointments within the Public Service.

An important reform would be by way of making it possible for representative associations like AGSI to make representations under the Code of Practice to the Public Appointments Commission.  The present setup places the individual member against senior management of An Garda Síochána – a situation which is manifestly unfair and against the principles of natural justice.

 I ask you to consider having such a solution incorporated in any necessary legislation.  The garda organisation, and the individual members, would be the better for it.

Using personal equipment

It’s a sad reflection on the garda organisation that so many members feel the need to use their own personal information technology equipment in the course of their duty.  We all know why they do it.  They do it to get the job done.  Members are using their laptops, their mobile phones – with their email capability, their Personal Digital Assistants (PADs), their memory sticks and even Electronic Investigative/Analysis Devices.

We wrote to every member earlier this month to point out that only equipment issued by the Garda Síochána ICT Section can be used for the storage of Garda Síochána data.  Any data held on personal equipment must be transferred to secure and encrypted garda equipment.

I repeat that message here and now.  Do not put yourself in danger of being blocked.  You might be trying to keep the service to the public going, but the consequences could be serious.  Don’t do it.

We also must remember that superintendents have been directed to investigate the loss or theft of ICT equipment in both a criminal and disciplinary context.

Head Shops

We are leaders once again, colleagues, but regrettably for the wrong reasons!  Dublin now has the highest concentration of ‘head shops’ in Europe!  In addition there are over 100 throughout the country.

I found it very interesting that, after a fire in a head shop in Dublin recently, the safe recovered from the rubble was found to contain half a million Euro!

These shops are, and have been, a hugely topical issue for some time now. We support the Government in its move to tackle the problem.  I read in one of our national papers recently where two young men in England, both only 19, died from what the police there believe was mephedrone.  Closer to home a 17-year-old Bray girl was rushed to hospital, reportedly after taking the same product.

One of the problems of course is that, being legal and being sold over the counter, young people believe they are safe – which of course they are not.  We welcome Minister Curran’s move to set up a working group to constantly monitor the situation.  He has also undertaken to add these products to the proscribed list under the Misuse of Drugs Act.  It’s regrettable of course that this proposed action cannot come into force until June because the EU directives on trade restrictions are a delaying factor.

Accommodation

Year after year Minister we have to address the vexed issue of accommodation and this year is no different.  Lack of progress is the problem.

When I get to think of accommodation I naturally enough thought about the Celtic Tiger – don’t we all! 

Recently when passing through Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo, I went in to see Yeats’ grave and, for some unknown reason, his poem ‘September 1913’ popped into my mind.  A short poem written nearly 100 years ago where he attacks collusion between the banks, the politicians and the developers.  Each verse ends the same way:

“Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone
It’s with O’Leary in the grave.”

I think we can now safely say the Celtic Tiger is also dead and gone!  Now whether it’s with O’Leary or somewhere else he’s certainly dead and buried.

There are over 700 garda stations throughout the country and almost all needing some attention.  I think we can break them down into three groups:

*  good accommodation but too small

*  accommodation in need of refurbishment or a new building

*  locations where sites have been bought and we are waiting for building to begin.  Castleisland, for instance, where our members have been in sub-standard accommodation for 11 years!

A management study has disclosed that we have 580 stattions needing major refurbishment or new buildings while 40% of the stations hold 66% of the total personnel in the force!  Those figures tell a stark story.

We have fought these issues for many, many years  with all the relevant authorities.  The latest story they are now telling us is that we must prepare, and have plans in place, for when the Celtic Tiger returns!

I have a better idea.  Why not invest in a building programme now, when employment is badly needed, and get these stations going.  Let’s create employment for people building, renovating and decorating so that we are all winners – the gardaí get a proper place to provide a service to the public and many people are given employment opportunities.

An allied issue with accommodation is detention facilities.  We now have legislation that allows for the detention of people for up to a week.  The Custody Regulations combined with European law require that people are treated properly, with respect and their right to dignity.  If we enact legislation then there is an onus on us to provide the facilities to comply with the law.

Transport

Our transport fleet is grinding to a halt, with no new vehicles bought during 2009  - and things do not look good for 2010.  We are back to the days of members using clapped-out, high-mileage patrol cars.  There are health and safety issues here, as well as the professionalism of the garda organisation. There are a number of motions on our conference programme again on this issue which reflects how strongly our members feel about it.

This was also brought home to us time and again during the annual general meetings of our branches in January.  I call for investment in new vehicles to avert a potentially serious situation arising from the use of vehicles which are long past their sell by date.

Subversive activity

We note your recent comments that subversive activity is at a high level and rising.  It could therefore not be a worse time to be running down the numbers in An Garda Síochána and starving it of resources.

The embargo on recruitment, plus the accelerated numbers of members retiring, will mean inevitably this year that total numbers in the organisation will decline.  Add to this the decline in investment in vehicles and you reduce the capacity of the force to respond to an increase in subversive activity. 

We support our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland – the PSNI -  in their unswerving work to protect all sections of their communities. 

While we have conceerns about the financial arrangements for the secondment of members of the Garda Síochána with the PSNI, we support the principle of such secondments equally strongly.  We urge that suitable arrangements be put in place so that the interchanges can become widespread and that our combined expertise will result in subversive activity being beaten for all time across this island.

Limerick

An issue close to my heart is the regeneration of parts of my adopted city, Limerick.  I ask the Government to treat this issue with the highest possible priority.

I was saddened to read earlier this year that our former Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea had said that the Government will not be able to proceed with the €1.7 billion regeneration project for Moyross, Ballinacurra Weston, Southill and St. Mary’s Park owing to the economic situation. 

This is extremely serious.  Unless we as a country take action now to break the vicious cycle of deprivation and disadvantage in these housing estates, we will have to suffer the consequences for generations to come.  We need to support and strengthen the large majority of decent people in those areas.  We need to stand up to the small groups who have been keeping the good people of these estates hostage for many years.  Less than 100 people have succeeded in blackening the name of Limerick for many years and the city has been crying out for action.  I appeal to the Minister, as representative of the Government, to support the regeneration of the estates and the efforts to stamp out criminality and intimidation.  If we do not, then the criminals will have won and we will have abandoned very many good people in the process.  The consequences of not driving on with the regeneration programme are too appalling to contemplate.

The right to defend your home and yourself

A huge issue for people is their right to defend themselves and their families in their own homes.  We need legislation to protect people who are unfortunate enough to experience burglary or aggravated burglary

Since the John ‘Frog’ Ward case in 2006 we have had a debate rumbling on in the background about this issue. I watched, as I suspect, most of you did, the recent Frontline programme where the whole audience was demanding action.

In 2008 the parliament of the United Kingdom enacted legislation and at that time the Home Secretary Jack Straw said: "The justice system must not only work on the side of people who do the right thing as good citizens, but also be seen to work on their side.”    I agree with the principles as set out by Mr Straw.

It needs to be clearly set out in law what people can do to defend themselves, and also to enable our courts to deal with those who invade homes and threaten or attack law abiding citizens.

Civilianisation

It may surprise you Minister to hear me say that I support the appointment of more civilians to the Garda Síochána. AGSI is on the record for many, many years as deploring the extremely poor ratio of civilian support staff to members of the gardaí, especially at station, district and divisional levels.  We still do not have the numbers of support staff of other forces and I call on you Minister to take steps to improve that situation.

On the other hand under the Change and Modernisation process we have had an increasing civilianisation of the management of the organisation, most notably at Garda Headquarters.  This has been agreed with the representative associations.  However we have reached the limits of where we should go with civilianisation.  If we proceed to civilianise any further positions we will risk removing a number of promotional and career opportunities from the members of An Garda Síochána.  This would be a retrograde step and it would result in de-motivation of the garda personnel.  We must preserve promotional opportunities so that gardaí will continue to strive for the betterment of the organisation and of themselves. It is also essential that a sound knowledge of practical policing is a requirement for our upper echelons, so that force-wide decisions can be made in the light of that practical knowledge.  It is essential that those in charge of the management of the human resources of the organisation, particularly, are grounded in practical police work.

The Pay Cuts

I will conclude my speech shortly, but I must go back to my pay cuts reference at the outset.

Towards the end of last year the Government itself put the final nail in the coffin of social partnership when it pulled the plug on negotiations which would have introduced the Transformation Agenda.  This happened because Government capitulated to some of their own backbenchers for political expediency.

As you know, we have re-engaged with the official side in pay talks since the 16th of this month.  We have provisionally agreed on the principles of a new Transformation Agenda for the Garda Síochána.  This is the first step of the process on the clear undertaking that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.  The next phase of discussions was on the pay and pensions element and they were to be concluded on the weekend just gone.

We have entered the discussions in good faith under the facilitators Kieran Mulvey and Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission.

We want the pay cuts reversed.  We want a negotiated settlement.  We want an end to the targeting and the demonisation of the public service.  We want our pension entitlements maintained. 

Minister, in the garda Síochána you have a group of workers as flexible and accommodating as any in the country.  We’re human  – if you cut us we bleed.  We’ve been bled enough.

 RESULTS OF MOTIONS
- 2010 CONFERENCE

Pay

1. That conference receives and adopts a report on pay from the National Executive.

.Report delivered by General Secretary Joe Dirwan.

2.  That Conference directs the National Executive to strongly condemn the behaviour of Government in collapsing the pay talks and for not treating all public service workers equitably.

Carried

3.  That Conference directs the National Executive to set, as its policy, the full restoration of our pay and conditions to the level prior to the October 2008 budget; that any further interference with Garda pay and conditions be vigorously rejected and that any actions undertaken by the Association in this regard will have this as its stated aim.

Remitted.

4.  That Conference directs the National Executive to express its abhorrence at the recent Government u-turn on pay cuts to higher civil servants and that AGSI call for a fair and equitable contribution from all sectors of Irish society in combating the public financial crisis.

Carried.

5.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Government to allow an exemption be made from recent pay cuts imposed in the budget to members of AGSI in  accordance with the exemption granted to higher level public servants in respect of the loss of their pay and other related bonuses.

Carried

6.  That Conference directs the National Executive to seek an exemption from the pay cut announced in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009, as provided for in Section 6 of the Act.

Remitted

7.  That Conference directs the National Executive to deplore the treatment of members who are eligible to retire or are near retirement and the failure of government to issue clear guidelines to the force - relative to the terms of pension/gratuity to be paid in the medium term. Conference also directs the National Executive to demand from the Minister for Finance clear and accurate information in relation to pay, pensions, gratuity and conditions for AGSI members so that they are in a position to make an informed decision on their careers and when they are in a position to retire. Conference further directs the Executive to bring clarity to this situation as soon as possible.
.
Remitted.

8.  That Conference directs the National Executive to firstly examine all Garda procedures and secondly to publish a definitive document for members to adhere to in respect of any  "Work to Rule".

Conference divided into workgroups

9.  That Conference directs the National Executive to defer all other matters until policy and a strategy is developed for all future negotiations with the official side in all matters regarding pay and conditions within An Garda Síochána.

Remitted

10.  That Conference directs the National Executive to adopt a policy whereby AGSI members should not volunteer to perform duty in prisons in the event of a withdrawal of labour by prison officers.

Carried.

 11.  That Conference directs the National Executive to  withdraw co-operation with the current modernisation agenda in the light of the pay cuts.

Remitted

Allowances

12.  That Conference directs the National Executive to pursue a policy whereby an on-call allowance is made payable to members of AGSI employed as Forensic Collision Investigators.

Carried

13.  That Conference directs the National Executive to pursue a policy whereby an on-call allowance is made payable to members of AGSI employed as members in charge of public order units.

Carried.

Pensions/Retirements

14.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform and Government to carry out any necessary amendments to Section 3.1.6 (ii) of the Financial Emergencies Measures in the Public Interest No. 2 Bill 2009 or relevant regulations so that the period whereby members retiring on pension in 2010 can retire at 2009 pay scales is extended beyond 2010.

Remitted

Promotion

15.  That Conference directs the National Executive to pursue a policy whereby members of An Garda Síochána at Sergeant & Inspector rank, recruited pursuant to the provisions of Regulation 14 of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations, 1988 (S.I. No. 164 of 1988) shall be eligible to transfer to any section or part of An Garda Síochána on promotion or otherwise

Remitted

16.  That Conference directs the National Executive to engage in a publicity campaign with the aim of having all Sergeants and Inspectors vacancies filled immediately.

Remitted

17.  That Conference directs the National Executive to demand that the current moratorium on recruitment and promotion in An Garda Síochána be rescinded immediately and that the interview process begin to fill further impending vacancies that will arise with the retirement of large numbers this year in order to ensure the capability of the organisation to respond to current and future crime demands/trends.

Carried

Training

18.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Garda Commissioner to ensure that firearms' training is provided in accordance with the Commissioners' policy. 

Carried.

19.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Commissioner to instigate a programme of training for the continuous development of all members in regard to new legislation and practices, also that training programmes be conducted separately for Sergeants and Inspectors.

Carried.

Duties/Responsibilities of Sergeants & Inspectors

20.  That Conference directs the National Executive to demand that all Garda Stations designated under the Station House Officer system be managed at all times by a Sergeant.

Carried.

21.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Commissioner and Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform to ensure that no member of An Garda Síochána should handle any firearm unless they are properly trained.

Carried.

22.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Commissioner to issue a directive from Headquarters regarding the proper procedures for the safe storage, destruction and disposal of surrendered and seized firearms.

Remitted

Complaints & Discipline

23.  That Conference directs the National Executive to ensure that all complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána are conducted and finalised within a specified period of time, the complaint and period of time to be informed to the members(s) being complained of within one month of the complaint having being made.

Carried.

24.  That Conference directs the National Executive to ensure that all members who have a complaint made against them must be notified in writing of the progress of the complaint within a period not exceeding three months. No period of three months should expire without receipt of written progress report on the complaint.

Carried.

Uniforms

25.  That Conference directs the National Executive to demand that the present stab vest should be replaced by a more up to date design.

Carried.

26.  That Conference directs the National Executive to request that the Garda Inspectorate be asked to look at the practicalities of the Garda uniform and the diverse versions currently in use - particularly that the present stab vest should be replaced by a more up to date design and also in the area of wearing the tie in conjunction with the stab-proof vest.

Carried

Transport & Equipment

27.  That Conference directs the National Executive to deplore the current state of the transport fleet and to request the Commissioner to replace all vehicles on the Garda fleet every 160,000km (100,000 miles), so that they are roadworthy in line with Health and Safety and best international policing practice. Where these vehicles are not replaced they should be the subject of the NCT after 160,000k.

Carried.

28.  That Conference directs the National Executive to request the Garda Commissioner to carry out a review of the current ageing Garda fleet to establish accurately the number of vehicles which are suitable for the task and capable of meeting the demands of daily police work and to ensure that the fleet achieves current EU regulations, such a review to include a cost effectiveness study of repairing high mileage vehicles as against replacing them with new vehicles, and for suitable replacements to begin immediately.

Carried.

29.  That Conference directs the National Executive to lobby the Commissioner to adopt a policy of re-selling the Garda fleet to the markets after one year of use or 100,000 km.

Carried.

30.  That Conference directs the National Executive to seek to have the current fleet servicing protocols reviewed to ensure that value for money is being delivered.

Carried.

31.  That Conference directs the National Executive to request the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform to allocate a suitably equipped four-wheel drive vehicle to each Garda district headquarters station.

Carried.

Force Strength

32.  That Conference directs the National Executive to ensure that all district headquarter stations have sufficient staff to open 24 hours to provide a service to the public in accordance with the Code

Carried.

33.  That Conference directs the National Executive to demand that the Garda Reserve should be disbanded and the money saved be used for other vital resources.

Carried.

Specialised Sections

34.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Garda Commissioner to deploy the regional support units in armed mode on a full time basis because of the increase in armed violence in society and Health & Safety considerations for all members.

Carried

35.  That Conference directs the National Executive to request the Commissioner to grant to Sergeants in the regional support unit the authority to deploy firearms, as need demands.

Remitted

Accommodation

36.  That Conference directs the National Executive to recommend that a drugs retrieval suite be installed in a nominated Garda station in every Garda division.

Carried.

37.  That Conference directs the National Executive to seek to have properties that are being included in NAMA diverted for use in the Garda capital building programme in order that significant cost savings can be made by using existing buildings.

Carried.

38.  That Conference directs the National Executive to explore the possibility that buildings coming under the control of NAMA be converted for use by the Garda Síochána as Divisional and District HQs, and as official garda accommodation as the need arises.

Carried.

Policing Methods and Techniques

39.  That Conference directs the National Executive to deplore the Governments lack of action in the provision of a DNA database and to actively pursue the establishment of a DNA database.

Carried.

40.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Garda Commissioner to carry out a review of the operation of property and exhibits management system.

Carried.

41.  That Conference directs the National Executive to devise a mechanism to report operational deficiencies in a timely manner.

Carried

42.  That Conference directs the National Executive to demand that the Garda Síochána Custody Records C-84 be computerised.

Remitted

43.  That Conference directs the National Executive to demand that a risk assessment be carried out before the deployment of a public order unit. Amendment: Include after the words "deployment of": "a full complement of a public order unit".

Carried as amended

44.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Commissioner to demand as a matter of urgency that the HSE adhere to the  protocols between the HSE and the Garda for dealing with the escort of mental patients.

Carried

Security & Law Reform

45.  That Conference directs the National Executive to make representations with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to introduce legislation to prevent other sections of workers mimicking or copying Garda uniforms equipment and transport.

Carried.

46.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform to introduce legislation to regulate horse fairs and livestock fairs held annually in many towns and villages throughout Ireland.

Carried

47.  That Conference directs the National Executive to pursue a policy with the appropriate authorities of extending the 42-day rule on the service of the Book of Evidence because of the increase in workload and the complexities of investigations.

Remitted

48.  That Conference directs the National Executive to commence legal proceedings to challenge the constitutionality of Section 18(2) and (3) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and to consider taking a case to the European courts in their efforts to obtain full trade union status.

Amendment:  Add after the word "Executive" on line one, - ", subject to suitable legal advice,".

Carried.

49.  That Conference directs the National Executive to consider taking a case to the European courts in their efforts to obtain full trade union status.

Carried

50.  That Conference directs the National Executive to ask the Government to introduce stronger and more effective legislation in combating driving while under the influence of drugs.

Remitted

Association Business

51.  That Conference directs the National Executive to endeavour to bring together a small consortium of members from within the organisation or retired members who have a competent knowledge of pay, income tax and pension rights to be available to the general membership to discuss their specific retirement entitlements.  This to be sponsored by the National Executive.

Amendment: In the last sentence replace the words "National Executive" with "Garda Commissioner".

Remitted

52.  That Conference directs the National Executive to re-examine the current AGSI retirement presentation with a view to replacing it with something more appropriate to signify the member's service.

Remitted

53.  That Conference directs the National Executive to look at the feasibility of the cost in running the annual conference, especially in the present financial times.

Remitted

54.  That Conference directs the National Executive to explore the possibility that members seeking legal advice may employ a solicitor or barrister of their choice and that expenses incurred would be paid in part or full by the Association on a standardised basis.

Remitted.

55.  That the AGSI Annual Delegate Conference examine the membership contribution to AGSI in course to see if it can be reduced further in 2010.

Remitted

56.  Go spreagann AGSI úsáid na Gaeilge nuar a bionn ábair áirithe á bplé ag an gComhdháil Bhliantúil Toscairí feasta 

That AGSI encourage the use of the Irish language further when discussing certain motions at the Annual Delegate Conference in future

Carried.

57.  That AGSI draw up a new communications strategy to highlight the effects of the economic crisis on its membership.

Remitted

General Matters

58.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on Garda Management to introduce a new style firearms certificate in credit card format incorporating any necessary security features, including the picture of the applicant and relevant licence details.

Remitted

59.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on Garda management to ensure that a media campaign is carried out to ensure that the public are aware of the problems with television reception and the operation of the Tetra System and to inform them of appropriate channels to register complaints.

Remitted

60.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Commissioner to put in place a system or section where the Garda Guide will be kept up to date. 

Amendment: After the word "date" insert the words "on the PULSE Portal".

Remitted

61.  That Conference directs the National Executive to call on the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform to provide adequate funding to An Garda Síochána to police major events during 2010.

Remitted

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

ELECTION OF AGSI PRESIDENT ARTICLE 17

Insert an additional article, 17(f) to read as follows:

When a vacancy for the position of President is to be filled in accordance with the provision

of either Articles 17(a), 17(d) or 17(d)(ii), the same procedures will apply in respect of

nominations, issue of nomination and ballot papers, closing date for their return and counting

of ballot papers.

Withdrawn