S.I. No. 910/1927 - 29/12/1927: The Garda Siochana (Representative Bodies) Regulations, 1927.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THE GARDA SIOCHANA (REPRESENTATIVE BODIES) REGULATIONS, 1927.

By virtue and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 14 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 , and of every and any other power me in that behalf enabling, I, James Fitzgerald-Kenney, Minister for Justice with the approval of the Executive Council, do hereby make the following Regulations:—

l. For the purpose of enabling members of the Garda Siochana to consider and bring to the notice of the Commissioner and of the Minister for Justice matters affecting their welfare and efficiency, other than questions of discipline and promotion affecting individuals there shall be established in that Force, in accordance with these Regulations:

(1) A Representative Body for Chief Superintendents and Superintendents,

(2) A Representative Body for Inspectors, Station Sergeants and Sergeants, and

(3) A Representative Body for Guards consisting of representatives elected by the members of the ranks represented from amongst their number in manner prescribed by these Regulations.

2. For the purpose of electing members to act as representatives of the various ranks on the Representative Bodies, An Saorstat shall be divided into four Areas, viz:—

(1) The Leinster Area, comprising the Province of Leinster (exclusive of Dublin Metropolitan Area) and the Counties of Monaghan and Cavan;

(2) The Connaught Area, comprising the province of Connaught and the County of Donegal;

(3) The Munster Area, comprising the Province of Munster; and

(4) The Dublin Metropolitan Area.

3. The Representative Body for Chief Superintendents and Superintendents shall consist of one Chief Superintendent and four Superintendents, who shall be elected in the following manner:—

(a) The Chief Superintendents in each Area shall, by vote, elect one of their number to act on a Selection Committee for An Saorstát. The Chief Superintendent in each Area who receives the greatest number of votes shall be declared to be so elected. In the event of a tie in any Area the members so tieing shall cast lots to determine who shall be deemed elected as delegate from that Area. The four Chief Superintendents elected to act on the Selection Committee shall meet at a place and on a date to be fixed by the Commissioner, and shall elect one of their number who shall act on the Representative Body.

(b) The Superintendents in each Area shall, by vote, elect one of their number and the four Superintendents so elected shall act on the Representative Body.

4. The Representative Body for Inspectors, Station Sergeants and Sergeants shall consist of two Inspectors, one Station Sergeant and four Sergeants, who shall be elected in the following manner, viz.:—

(a) The Inspectors stationed in the Dublin Metropolitan Area shall by vote elect one of their number to act on the Representative Body; and the Inspectors stationed outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area shall also elect one of their number to act on the Representative Body.

(b) The Station Sergeants stationed in the Dublin Metropolitan Area shall elect one of their number to act on the Representative Body.

(c) The Sergeants of each District shall by vote elect one of their number to act on a Selection Committee for the Division. Each Divisional Selection Committee shall by vote elect one of their number to act on a Selection Committee for the Area in which the Division is situate. The Selection Committee for each Area shall by vote elect one of their number, and the four Sergeants so elected shall act on the Representative Body.

5. The Representative Body for Guards shall consist of eight Guards who shall be elected in the following manner, vii.:—

The Guards stationed in each District shall by vote elect two of their number to act on a Selection Committee for the Division. Each Divisional Committee shall by vote elect two of their number to act on a Selection Committee for the Area in which the Division is situate. The Selection Committee for each Area shall by vote elect two of their number, and the eight Guards so elected shall act on the Representative Body.

6. For the purpose of these Regulations members of the Force stationed at Headquarters or at the Depot shall be regarded as being stationed in the Leinster Area.

7. Subject to these Regulations the Commissioner shall prescribe the procedure to be followed in voting by the several ranks at the various stages of elections, and shall fix the dates upon, or within, which the several elections shall take place.

8. Each Representative Body shall choose its Chairman and Secretary from amongst its own members, and shall regulate its own procedure. Where there is an equality of votes regarding any matter which may be under consideration at any meeting, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

9. Each of the three Representative Bodies shall have power to co-opt, if considered necessary, two additional members of the ranks represented.

10. The Representatives of the various ranks shall not cease to be members for the area from which they were elected, even if transferred to another area, and vacancies shall not arise save in the case of a representative leaving the Force changing rank, or resigning from the Representative Body. Any casual vacancy so arising shall be filled, under the foregoing regulations, by the Selection Committee who selected the member vacating office.

11. Each Representative Body may make application to the Commissioner for any information it desires to obtain with a view to aiding it in its deliberations.

12. Except where, in special circumstances, a member of the Force is required for duty for which no substitute is available, leave (not to count against annual leave) shall be given for attendance at meetings of Selection Committees and of Representative Bodies, and every such attendance shall, as regards allowances and expenses, be deemed an occasion of police duty.

13. The three Representative Bodies, or my two of them, may by agreement sit together as a Joint Representative Body, for any special purpose, or regularly for any purpose of common interest. They may also be summoned to sit as a Joint Representative Body, by the Commissioner for the consideration of any question referred to them by him.

14. The meetings of each Representative Body shall be held, us occasion requires, on such dates and at such places as may be fixed by the Commissioner.

15. The elections under paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of these Regulations shall be held in the month of January in every alternative year commencing in January, 1928, and the Representative Bodies so elected shall hold office until the 31st day of December of the year following the year of their election.

16. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1928, as from which date the Garda Siochana (Representative Bodies) Regulations, 1925, and the Rules dated 10th December, 1919, providing for the establishment of Representative Bodies in the Dublin Metropolitan Police shall be wholly superseded.

17. These Regulations may for all purposes be cited as the Garda Siochana (Representative Bodies) Regulations, 1927.

Given under my Seal of Office this 29th day of December, 1927.

JAMES FITZGERALD-KENNEY.

Minister for Justice.