Latest news with #GardaRepresentativeAssociation
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Letters: Young people could well afford to repay a mortgage – if they could just get their hands on one
House prices are continuing to climb. Stock Image The real problem is that they cannot get a mortgage. This is because house prices are at a level that their savings, salary and funds offered by banks just don't get close to. Even with parents raiding savings and pension plans, the gap is insurmountable. Borrowers might well afford to repay instalments on a 30-year mortgage, but they just cannot get one. The solution is simple. We need a very clear agreement between banks and clients. And I'm not ruling out government-sponsored lending. It would state: We will give you the funds you need, provided you have shown history of savings. But – and it is a big proviso – should you renege on your mortgage payments after an agreed timescale, you must hand back the keys. There can be no ifs, ands or buts. This is an adults' agreement. I believe that thousands of people in Ireland today would happily take this offer were it available. So many people are trapped paying prohibitive rent that not only cripples their finances, but cripples their chances of getting a mortgage. Eamon Kearney, Baldoyle, Dublin I'm greatly reassured to learn that red wine, dark chocolate, tea and apples now count towards our five-a-day ('Your 'five-a-day' can now include chocolate and red wine,' Irish Independent , June 3). At this rate, all I need is a Tayto crisp sandwich and we'll have cracked public health in Northern Ireland. As someone from Armagh, I've long maintained that an apple a day – preferably from a tree your grandad planted – is as medicinal as anything in the pharmacy. Now, thanks to Queen's University Belfast, it seems flavonoids are the future. Tea and red wine included? That's breakfast and supper sorted. Kale, of course, remains under review. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh There are a lot of issues with generative AI and large language models in education. They can be used by students and teachers to create essays and lesson plans. However, AI is entirely dependent on what you ask it to do. Even the slightest error in a request can lead to wildly varying results that may not reflect the author's intentions. Users must be very precise when asking AI to generate text. In the past, there was no such thing as a 'stupid question', but there is when using AI. Students and teachers need to be trained in prompt engineering. This is learning how to ask AI to generate something by giving it appropriate and well thought-out prompts. AI has become a new cornerstone in education; everyone can learn to be thoughtful and reflective when using it. In the future, students shouldn't be assessed on their AI-generated essays, but, rather on the quality of the 'prompts' they use to generate it. Dr John Jennings, Knocknacarra, Galway The Garda Representative Association (GRA) does a lot of moaning nowadays about how members are treated by the Government and the people. Does this go on across Europe? You'd think that those sworn to uphold the law would follow that promise through and not bark at every new regulation brought in by a democratically elected government. Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin At the moment, Israel has been green-lighted and armed by Donald Trump to start the bombardment of Iran. The reason is to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons, because the country is seen to be unstable and a threat. But I would argue Israel might be viewed as equally unstable under the current leadership. Ray Dunne, Enfield, Meath The horrific war in Gaza, which started with Hamas' shocking attack on Israel's civilians in October 2023, has appalled most decent people, and yet the bombings and killing of Palestinians continues. Despite frequent words of condemnation, most world leaders have done nothing to stop it. Worse still, many European countries, as well as the US, continue to stand by Israel economically and militarily. The EU was quick to call out the Russian invasion of Ukraine, so why is the EU not stopping Israel's genocide in Gaza? Is the EU not hypocritical in its actions, and has it learnt nothing from past conflicts? The union was a European project to foster peace. So why is Israel, a perpetrator of destruction, mass migration and famine on the people of Gaza, still allowed to participate in EU-funded research projects? And why do EU countries continue to sell arms to Israel? Has the EU lost its moral compass? C Bailey, Dundrum, Dublin Enda Cullen is to be commended on his sharp observance of 'hitting the floor' over Saturday night's GAA commentary on Armagh v Galway ('GAA commentary needs to be more grounded – I was floored by what I heard,' Letters, June 16). There are so many sideshows on our current TV commentaries and analysis. 'Playing deep', 'middle three', 'middle eight', (is there a difference?). 'Push-up', 'giving' (no presents given in Gaelic football). 'On the back foot', 'running deep'. These are just some of the phrases that we, the viewers and readers, run with. Gone are the golden sports days of the great Michael O'Hehir's lone broadcasts. The whistle, the throw-in, the game is on, there's five minutes left in the game, there goes the final whistle. Game over. The last we had of that long-lost sporting activity was the legendary John D Hickey's famous reports in the Irish Independent on Monday mornings. No confetti or strings attached – like now. Tom Curley, Galway
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
First openly gay GRA President encourages force members to be honest about ‘who they are' after ‘difficult' years hiding
THE first openly gay president of the Garda Representative Association has revealed how he was married to the mother of their two teenage children when he came out. Mark O'Meara today takes the courageous step of telling his story to encourage other members of the force not to fear being "open and honest about who they are". Advertisement 4 The GRA President, photographed in his office, has issued an encouraging message for other force members Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN 4 The Garda Representative Association have been accepting of his sexuality Credit: Collect His decision to speak also comes ten years on from the Marriage Referendum, after which he found new love and is now remarried with his husband Rory, while also maintaining a really positive friendship with his ex-wife and two children. It's a far cry from when he was left really struggling, battling with the weight on his shoulders he felt from his O'Meara explained: "Having hidden my sexuality most of my life, I think now that I can be open and honest on how difficult that time of my life was. "I have no doubt so too do many other Advertisement READ MORE ON LGBT "It's not being the real you, the complete you, that affects your relationships with others, in my case it was with my ex-wife and our two children. "I'm not saying we didn't have a good "But it could have been so much more, particularly for my kids, who no matter how much they deny it, had to find it so very difficult and upsetting, and I'm still very conscious of that. "I was lucky in so many ways that my wife and Advertisement Most read in Irish News Originally from Thurles in Co From an early age, O'Meara knew he was 'different' but didn't know how to label it because it was a time in Gardai roll out new tool in crackdown on e-scooters After secondary school, he moved to After some bar work and other random jobs, he signed up for the Advertisement It was in the O'Meara said: "Sexuality wasn't an issue for me at that point. From memory, it had no relevance to me at that time at all. "I had no doubts that I wanted to get married." Following almost nine years based in England's capital, he and his wife returned to Ireland as he joined the Advertisement They lived a happy life and had two children together, but as time passed, O'Meara's sexuality began to take its toll. It affected his confidence and how he put himself forward, describing it as one of the most difficult things he has had to grapple with in life. 'MARRIAGE BEGAN TO SUFFER' He explained: "It only became an issue for me years later after the birth of our second child but I just put it to the back of my mind and had more or less resigned myself to my life with my wife and kids and that was it. "We were such good friends so I just thought that sexuality wouldn't be an issue and we would grow old together, and in my mind then I thought my sexuality would have been something in my past. Advertisement "Things just started to fragment over time and the marriage began to suffer and we took the difficult decision to separate. "I think at that point I just knew I would have to walk away, the pressures were affecting me both physically and mentally. "We tried "That was the most difficult part, but funnily enough it was the news of the breakdown of the marriage that hurt them most, whereas the news of my sexuality seemed to be insignificant in comparison for them." Advertisement While the separation and divorce was "very difficult" for the 'HAPPY RELATIONSHIP' In 2015, O'Meara met his partner Rory, who his children see as their "second dad", and the couple later wed. He added: "My ex-wife and I enjoy a close relationship and we talk regularly. I was lucky to meet someone, and after the marriage referendum I married my husband Rory, in August 2018. "My ex-wife and our children were at the Advertisement There was no "big reveal" of O'Meara's sexuality to his friends or community but eventually people became aware and he told some colleagues at work, who he got great support from. O'Meara explained: "I was attached to the "But I never once witnessed any homophobic or masochistic attitudes towards me. "In fact it was quite the opposite and they were hugely, hugely supportive towards me. I think like myself, many of them forgot I was gay because it became so insignificant that it made no difference whatsoever. Advertisement "I think what was important to them was that I was still the same person and that I hadn't changed and I was still 'Mark', but Mark just happened to be gay. "I was stationed in Cahir in South Tipperary for 17 years before the College and again, when I came out, all I've ever had is support and never judgement. I've done enough of that to myself over my lifetime, so I'm grateful others haven't judged me." 'BE YOURSELF' O'Meara also told how his sexuality has never affected his career or work with the GRA, which represents over 11,000 rank and file garda members. He added: "It's never been an issue. Being the first openly gay President of the Association hasn't caused me any difficulties." Advertisement Asked if he had any advice for members who are struggling like he once did, he said: "I came from a completely different generation in many ways to the younger members, but still I personally never had to deal with any negative experience, repercussions or hostility for my sexuality. "Clearly I cannot speak for every one of my colleagues around my age. But I think for younger members, I certainly hope that it is less of an issue for them. For those that believe it is an issue, I would appeal to them to 'just be yourself, be yourself and be proud of your sexuality. "Don't shy away from it, and please don't cause yourself any unnecessary mental and physical anguish and pain over the years. "Our sexuality, whatever it is, is a proud part of us all, but it doesn't, nor should it, define us." Advertisement 4 Mark O'Meara married his partner Rory in 2018 Credit: Collect 4 Mark revealed his children view his husband as a 'second dad' Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Head of garda group: 'The moment I came out, it became the most insignificant part of me'
THE PRESIDENT OF a garda group has said that he hopes that talking about his sexuality will help his colleagues. Mark O'Meara is currently the elected head of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) which represents rank and file members of Ireland's police force. In an interview published in the Garda Review, the group's magazine, he speaks about his own experiences of being a gay man in An Garda Síochána. O'Meara, who was first a member of the Metropolitan Police in London when he left Thurles, Co Tipperary in the 1980s. He then came home to Ireland and became a garda. He said his decision to speak openly was to give people an understanding of the difficulties he faced coming to terms with his sexuality and that he hopes it will help other gardaí. 'I am now in the final year of my presidency and I felt it was important to talk about this while I still had the platform of the position that I hold and hope to get across my experience of being a gay man within An Garda Síochána and perhaps inspire others to know it is okay to be open and honest about who they are,' he said. O'Meara said that he felt it would be 'disingenuous' if he didn't speak up. 'I just wanted to be open and honest and if this interview even helps one member of the GRA and indeed, An Garda Síochána, then it will have been worth it,' he added. The interview is the GRA's way also to mark Dublin Pride Parade on 28 June – it will come on 10th anniversary of the marriage equality referendum. Mark is married now to his partner Rory but he was married previously. In the interview he explained how difficult that time was for him as he was finding a way to be open about his sexuality with his loved ones from the previous relationship. Advertisement 'Having hidden my sexuality most of my life, I think now that I can be open and honest on how difficult that time of my life was, and I have no doubt so too, do many other gay people who can't, or who are afraid to come out, and so might suffer damaging mental and physical health. 'It's not being the real you, the complete you, that affects your relationships with others, in my case it was with my ex-wife and our two children,' he added. O'Meara said his experience of life in An Garda Síochána was positive and when he came out to his colleagues he was working in the driving school in Templemore Garda College. He said he was worried, before telling his colleagues, that he would be outed at work and keeping the secret was the most difficult time for him. 'But there's no doubt that for a number of years I struggled to have the confidence I have now. 'There were times when my daily prevailing thought was 'will someone look at me and say, he looks gay' and so up to the point where I came out, my sexuality was definitely one of the most difficult issues I ever dealt with. 'But the moment I came out it immediately became the most insignificant part of me, it meant nothing,' he added. Despite those struggles O'Meara does not regret coming out sooner. 'If I came out sooner, or even been conscious of how I really felt, that I wouldn't have married or had my children, perhaps wouldn't have then met my husband. 'So the timing and what happened over the years is nothing that I regret as I wouldn't be the man I am or have the things I have today. 'So I have no regrets as such, just perhaps guilt, some justifiable, some unjustified because you find solace in the fact that you were trying to protect your kids from hurt and pain. 'But in the end, it was for the best as my kids now see a much happier dad and we have a brilliant relationship,' he added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Garda body says fewer officers are trained in public order than before Dublin riots
'We actually have fewer Gardaí trained now than we had on the day of the Dublin riots' Workers clean up after the Dublin riots in 2023 The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has issued a stark warning over the force's preparedness in the event of a repeat of the 'Dublin riots'. At the annual conference in Killarney last week, delegates revealed there are fewer officers trained in 'public order' tactics in the Dublin Metropolitan Region today than on the night hundreds of thugs caused mayhem in the capital city in 2023. In an interview with the Sunday World, Public Order Instructor and delegate for the DMR East, Dave Lestrange revealed how there were 534 gardai trained and certified in public order in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on November 23, 2023 as opposed to just 513 today. And he warned that cutbacks in the number of public order training days, as well as a lack of a purpose-built public order training facility, will impact the effectiveness of the response of gardai to such an event in the future. 'The Minister [of Justice] came out recently and said from the information that he had received that we have 700 members trained in the DMR,' he said. 'That's not correct. 'We actually have fewer members trained now than we had on the day of the Dublin riots in public order policing. Workers clean up after the Dublin riots in 2023 'In the DMR at the time of the riots, there were 534 officers training and certified in public order. 'In 2024, we trained an additional 160 officers. 'But after losing people in the re-certs, we are down to 513 members.' On a day of infamy in Dublin on November 23, 2023, multiple incidents of vandalism, arson and looting took place in the city centre involving at its height as many as 500 people. The riot was triggered by the stabbing of a young child and a care assistant outside a primary school in Parnell Square East, Dublin. Asked this week whether gardai are better trained and equipped to respond to such rioting today, Garda Lestrange responded: 'Well, we have less members [trained in public order techniques] than we did back then. Gardai face rioters on Parnell Street in 2023 News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, May 6th Mr Lestrange also criticised a new policy in place concerning the number of training days that are now being provided to officers. 'Every member that is trained in public order completed a six day course and if they are successful they are a member of the public order unit. 'They were to recertify annually and this consisted of a fitness test followed by a three day re-cert, which would include a scenario. 'A new policy has just come in, and it's currently being introduced, where it's cutting the training. 'We've done research on other police forces and they have to do five and sometimes more days of training a year. 'It's due to the tactics involved and these are perishable skills, so it needs to be consistent every year. 'The new policy here will cut the number of days our officers receive. Public Order instructor Dave Lestrange talks to our reporter 'There will be a three-day re-cert but this will include the fitness test on the morning of the first day which cuts the three-day course because the fitness course takes half a day – so our officers will only get two-and-a-half-days. 'And then every alternative year it will be one day of scenario-based training. 'We don't believe that's sufficient,' he added. 'We believe it should be a minimum two-day scenario-based training course. 'This is because if members are taking part in a scenario, we have to be able to identify the mistakes and correct these mistakes. 'The one-day scenario that is being introduced does not give us the opportunity to do this. 'You will have members that management will say have been re-certed but they have not been properly trained. 'The scenario-based training is good because it's practical and based on real life scenarios but to do one day of scenario-based training every second year is not acceptable. It's for the members as well. They are going out in the streets. 'And you see more and more of these things happening.' Garda Lestrange also called for the construction of a new purpose-built training facility for the public order unit. 'We need a full-time tactical area that not only the public order unit can use for training but also the armed support unit (ASU) can use. 'And at the moment we don't have that. 'We train in Gormanstown army barracks and that's an active training barracks for the army so the facilities available to us aren't great. 'There's very little facilities available to us there. 'What we need is a purpose built training facility for all public order and tactical training.' In a response, Garda HQ said: 'In relation to Public Order policing in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), preparations are currently under way to identify, train and equip additional personnel to augment the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) operating within the DMR.' The statement said there are 1,500 trained public order gardaí nationally while spending on public order equipment increased by 152 per cent since 2023: It said this money was spent on general frontline equipment including safety helmets, higher-strength incapacitant spray, shields and new body armour. It said nine bespoke Public Order vans have been purchased, bringing to a total 35 public order vans in the Garda fleet, in addition to two water cannons. The statement added that public order tactics have been enhanced to allow for use of these additional resources.
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Garda association issue serious warning in the event of another Dublin riots
'We actually have fewer Gardaí trained now than we had on the day of the Dublin riots' Workers clean up after the Dublin riots in 2023 The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has issued a stark warning over the force's preparedness in the event of a repeat of the 'Dublin riots'. At the annual conference in Killarney last week, delegates revealed there are fewer officers trained in 'public order' tactics in the Dublin Metropolitan Region today than on the night hundreds of thugs caused mayhem in the capital city in 2023. In an interview with the Sunday World, Public Order Instructor and delegate for the DMR East, Dave Lestrange revealed how there were 534 gardai trained and certified in public order in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on November 23, 2023 as opposed to just 513 today. And he warned that cutbacks in the number of public order training days, as well as a lack of a purpose-built public order training facility, will impact the effectiveness of the response of gardai to such an event in the future. 'The Minister [of Justice] came out recently and said from the information that he had received that we have 700 members trained in the DMR,' he said. 'That's not correct. 'We actually have fewer members trained now than we had on the day of the Dublin riots in public order policing. Workers clean up after the Dublin riots in 2023 'In the DMR at the time of the riots, there were 534 officers training and certified in public order. 'In 2024, we trained an additional 160 officers. 'But after losing people in the re-certs, we are down to 513 members.' On a day of infamy in Dublin on November 23, 2023, multiple incidents of vandalism, arson and looting took place in the city centre involving at its height as many as 500 people. The riot was triggered by the stabbing of a young child and a care assistant outside a primary school in Parnell Square East, Dublin. Asked this week whether gardai are better trained and equipped to respond to such rioting today, Garda Lestrange responded: 'Well, we have less members [trained in public order techniques] than we did back then. Gardai face rioters on Parnell Street in 2023 News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, May 6th Mr Lestrange also criticised a new policy in place concerning the number of training days that are now being provided to officers. 'Every member that is trained in public order completed a six day course and if they are successful they are a member of the public order unit. 'They were to recertify annually and this consisted of a fitness test followed by a three day re-cert, which would include a scenario. 'A new policy has just come in, and it's currently being introduced, where it's cutting the training. 'We've done research on other police forces and they have to do five and sometimes more days of training a year. 'It's due to the tactics involved and these are perishable skills, so it needs to be consistent every year. 'The new policy here will cut the number of days our officers receive. Public Order instructor Dave Lestrange talks to our reporter 'There will be a three-day re-cert but this will include the fitness test on the morning of the first day which cuts the three-day course because the fitness course takes half a day – so our officers will only get two-and-a-half-days. 'And then every alternative year it will be one day of scenario-based training. 'We don't believe that's sufficient,' he added. 'We believe it should be a minimum two-day scenario-based training course. 'This is because if members are taking part in a scenario, we have to be able to identify the mistakes and correct these mistakes. 'The one-day scenario that is being introduced does not give us the opportunity to do this. 'You will have members that management will say have been re-certed but they have not been properly trained. 'The scenario-based training is good because it's practical and based on real life scenarios but to do one day of scenario-based training every second year is not acceptable. It's for the members as well. They are going out in the streets. 'And you see more and more of these things happening.' Garda Lestrange also called for the construction of a new purpose-built training facility for the public order unit. 'We need a full-time tactical area that not only the public order unit can use for training but also the armed support unit (ASU) can use. 'And at the moment we don't have that. 'We train in Gormanstown army barracks and that's an active training barracks for the army so the facilities available to us aren't great. 'There's very little facilities available to us there. 'What we need is a purpose built training facility for all public order and tactical training.' In a response, Garda HQ said: 'In relation to Public Order policing in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), preparations are currently under way to identify, train and equip additional personnel to augment the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) operating within the DMR.' The statement said there are 1,500 trained public order gardaí nationally while spending on public order equipment increased by 152 per cent since 2023: It said this money was spent on general frontline equipment including safety helmets, higher-strength incapacitant spray, shields and new body armour. It said nine bespoke Public Order vans have been purchased, bringing to a total 35 public order vans in the Garda fleet, in addition to two water cannons. The statement added that public order tactics have been enhanced to allow for use of these additional resources.
