Bid for more superintendents as role 'completely' changed

The general secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents has called for an additional 23 superintendents, claiming "the role has changed completely" since 2019.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Michael Comyns said the association is seeking to bring the number of superintendents in the country up to 191.

"Since the introduction of the operating policing model, our role changed completely. And that's going back from 2019 up to present.

"With the introduction of the model, we never have had a full complement of all positions within the model filled.

"We also are in negotiation with both the commissioner and the minister in relation to extra positions for road policing superintendents," Mr Comyns said.

He added: "And, at the moment, with the EU presidency and the number of major events taking place in the country, superintendents are working hours way beyond what we are conditioned to work under our regulations."

Mr Comyns said superintendents are not paid for working extra hours as they are salaried.

"We don't get overtime. So that is the big issue that we have. We do not get paid for these extra hours.

"The guy that's at home in the evening with his feet up gets the same money as the superintendent who's out on duty," he said.

Mr Comyns added: "But what's going on at the moment in the country with the EU presidency, various big, big events like the visit of President Trump to the Irish Open, superintendents are being expected to work late into the night, work during the night, overnight.

"And it's the same superintendents that are doing all this extra duty.

"So, what we're asking for is that the employment number, which is 168, would be increased to the number which was brought in in 2020 under the Garage Chicano Ranks Regulations 191, which would be an extra 23 superintendents to relieve the number of hours that superintendents are currently working."

Mr Comyns has said the organisation’s national executive has decided not to comment on the RTÉ Investigates programme on whistleblowers as it represents members "on all sides of the matter".