Planned gardaí work-to-rule action is called off
It comes after what has been described as ‘significant progress’ in talks between the Garda Representative Association and the commissioner.
A planned work-to-rule action this week by gardaí has been cancelled.
Frontline officers had been set to take the action around the major EU presidency events at the end of the week in a dispute over conditions.
About 50 heads of state will be in Dublin for the ninth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) on Thursday, which will see the largest security operation in the history of the country.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which advocates on behalf of rank-and-file members, had directed its members to participate in work-to-rule action between Tuesday November 10 and Saturday November 14.
BREAKING!! Tonight the GRA’s Central Executive Committee voted to stand down our Work To Rule position for this week after making significant progress with the Garda Commissioner. More details to follow #GRA #EPC
— GRA (@gardarep) November 9, 2026
There are legal prohibitions on gardaí joining trade unions and participating in a strike, with the GRA instead considered a professional association with statutory footing.
It argues that Garda management is in breach of the working-time agreement for members, including around breaks between shifts.
It made the work-to-rule direction after holding a vote of members.
On Monday night the GRA announced its Central Executive Committee had voted to stand down its work-to-rule position for this week.
It said the vote came after “significant progress” had been made with Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly.
The breakthrough came after the GRA’s president, Niall Hodgins, and general secretary Ronan Slevin met Mr Kelly and Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary.
In a statement the GRA said “significant progress was made on the number of outstanding issues that were affecting our membership”.
These include over productivity, aspects of subsistence payments and mileage.
“We are now satisfied with the assurances and commitments given and following a special meeting of our Central Executive Committee in the last hour, it has been agreed to stand down our work-to-rule position for the five days commencing November 10,” they said.
“We regard these as a number of ‘wins’ for you the members, to reflect the extraordinary work you have delivered.
“We wish to thank Commissioner Kelly and his team for their positive engagement, but most of all, we want to thank the GRA membership for their continued patience and dedication to duty during these intense negotiations.
“This has been a very tough and challenging few months and your commitment has been greatly appreciated by this association.
“We now wish you all a safe week ahead and will send further updates when appropriate.”