Mark Ferris

Two stories, same day. 1. “€225m in allowances” , with the old implication that Gardaí are being showered with extras. rte.ie/news/business/… 2. Frontline numbers down 5% since 2020, 40% of stations with fewer Gardaí, 63 stations with no dedicated member. independent.ie/irish-news/cri… The allowances line just doesn’t wash when set beside a hollowed‑out frontline @kenfoxe

Yesterday showed us the hard truth about ‘Grace’s Law’, the State is still more willing to put a Garda off the road than to give us the training, legal cover and support needed to get scramblers off our streets. That has to change. Outrage as Garda banned over chase — while key witness previously caught with stolen bike irishmirror.ie/news/irish-new…

Out of respect for the ongoing legal process, I’m not going to comment on the specifics of this case. But what i will say is this, what happened is exactly what I’ve been warning about for a long time. Frontline Gardaí are being asked to tackle highly dangerous scrambler crime without specialist pursuit training, legal protections or clear policies. This judge himself said there are 'policing situations where extreme driving skills were required'. Right now, theres none.

I am appealing on behalf of @MeathGAA & @StUltansGFC GAA Club regarding a fundraising appeal established in the past 24 hours to support Sharon Ball, who requires urgent life-saving brain surgery. GRMA @gaaleinster @OffMeathCamog @meathladiesMLGF gofundme.com/f/help-sharon-…

Valid and very important points raised by @PCSA_Irl but we still have cases of Garda recruits entering Templemore and even starting on duty in stations before even basic vetting is complete. Let’s get the basics right first. Concerns raised over absence of drug testing for gardaí rte.ie/news/ireland/2… via @rte

Strange how, when @gardarep are in a dispute over pay and conditions, we suddenly see headlines about us working the ‘most paid hours’ in the public sector off data thats released QUARTERLY! Those hours are driven by chronic understaffing and overtime to cover that. @ammowalsh Gardaí work most paid hours in the public sector, CSO figures reveal independent.ie/irish-news/gar…

Very significant development @rte This is exactly what I’ve been consistently calling for, in the media and within @GardaTraffic & @gardarep emergency-services.ie/trivial-pursui… I’m glad that the concerns I’ve been raising on behalf of frontline members are finally being acknowledged at the highest level, now the focus has to be on delivering real training, clear policy and proper protections. Kelly 'looking at' e-scooter pursuit training for gardaí rte.ie/news/ireland/2… via @rte

The motion’s before Conference were debated and its positive that delegates backed them. Our members have been clear with us for a long time, I hope the strength of today’s mandate is respected and acted on by all sides.

'Been saying this since December 2024, Gardaí are not trained or equipped to pursue scramblers safely, yet, rightly, there is an expectation for us to act. Until we get pursuit training and a connected tactical framework scenes like this will keep happening.'

The Taoiseach, @MichealMartinTD has stated in the Dáil that there should be no scramblers on public roads, and in principle I fully agree with that objective. The unfortunate reality is that some youths will still engage in this behaviour, even if it is completely outlawed. The reality on the ground is that we desperately need pursuit training and a clear tactical framework so Gardaí can intervene safely and effectively when that happens.

The section of the article that says Drew Harris “announced a policy change allowing Gardaí to pursue people found to be driving scramblers, scooters and electric bikes dangerously” is misleading and misinformation. There is NO member of @GardaTraffic trained and authorised to engage in pursuit driving. @janemoore__ thejournal.ie/finglas-deeply…

Interesting to see Drew Harris describe @gardainfo “local connection” with the community as “gold”, while the Operating Policing Model forced through under his tenure did the complete opposite, centralising units, amalgamating districts, and pulling Gardaí away from the very communities where those connections are made.

'Leo Varadkar acknowledges it was pre-decided and 'intentional' to go outside AGS to appoint Drew Harris as Commissioner, yet still avoids any clear answer on whether his performance should ever be independently assessed. This should concern every member and every citizen who cares about accountability in policing. Time for @policingauthirl and others to explain why a non-Garda appointment was seen as necessary and how, if at all, that experiment has been evaluated in light of the current state of the job. Appreciate @cooper_m for asking the hard question, it cannot be left fudged.'

All referrals “involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured” must first be grounded in an adequate, robust referrals regime that properly reflects and supports s.203. This entails clear national guidance, decision making processes and scenario‑based training for Officers, so referrals are made ‘consistently and proportionately’ @FiosruOmbudsman

Lucy Michael: Ireland’s Taser pilot is bad science and bad policy irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/1… This is not a rushed policy, over a decade @grarep have been dealing with close to 300 assaults on members every year, frontline members have long called for Tasers as a less‑lethal option to protect the public and themselves. A limited, closely monitored pilot is a proportionate response to a well‑documented risk. It's not a knee‑jerk reaction. crimeworld.com/sundayworld/ca…

Members and communities in DMR West deserve clarity. It’s long past time for HR&PD to be open and transparent about how probationer Gardaí are allocated. If it isn’t clearly linked to recorded crime, demand, and population, what rationale are business cases based on? @emer_currie1 @conor_feehan independent.ie/irish-news/cri…

Back in 2019, when questions were asked about Commissioner Harris’s rent, the line was that ‘the Dept of Justice are his employers’. Today OPW tell PAC it was AGS that arranged and paid for his Phoenix Park accommodation. In the same breath, Garda rank and file are told to make do with archaic subsistence rates. Serious questions now need to be asked of all concerned??

How can the government be serious about law & order, increasing Garda numbers and bringing the force into the 21st century if a 19th century campus is still the sole training centre for recruits?

Spoke with the members involved in last night’s incident, v proud of their courage & professionalism. Once again, colleagues have gone above and beyond for public safety without having proper pursuit training. Thankfully, it ended safely this time. emergency-services.ie/trivial-pursui…

'No member of An Garda Síochána is trained and authorised to pursue fleeing suspects, raising serious questions about public safety and legal ramifications for members'. emergency-services.ie/trivial-pursui…