Dublin gardai have told the Government to get on with their Force change programme, the GRA President has said.
The elected leader of the Garda Representative Association, Jim Mulligan, was speaking at the annual conference in Killarney.
He has told Government that the organisation, which represents garda rank members of the Force, is ready for change.
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He said: "We have been making our case for better training, equipment and facilities for a number of years. Regrettably, we’ve not got the response we were looking for.
“Regrettably, criminality is a fact of life. And as our population grows, and criminal behaviours evolve, we will need a world-class approach to policing to prevent and detect their crimes.
“This is achievable. We are entering into a period where the biggest change in the history of Irish policing is afoot. Provided we all work together to achieve it.
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“The GRA believes the Commission on the Future of Policing and the Government have a blueprint for the most wide-ranging change to policing in Irish history."
Mr Mulligan said garda rank members want change and the professionalisation of their force to modern standards.
He explained: "The next three-and-half-years will be a period of intense negotiation – and collaboration – as we implement a vast range of measures to give the Irish people the police service they need – and deserve.
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“The GRA is fully up for the challenge of implementing a shared vision of a highly responsive, highly professional, fully equipped and trained police force; and we will engage with partners constructively and in a spirit of positivity to achieve this.
“When gardai say specialist skills should be respected; or highlight inadequate training, equipment, accommodation and operational resourcing, this is as much in the public interest as our own.
"Working gardai are entitled to a safer and better working environment but we are advocates for a world-class policing service that serves everybody.
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“The Garda Representative Association intends to seize this historic opportunity. That is why our conference theme is Preparing for Change.”
Along with their support for the modernisation plan for the Force the GRA are also calling for an extension to the working age for gardai.
Gardai are calling for the compulsory retirement age to be extended so they can continue on the beat for longer.
At present, cops in Ireland must hang up their hats at the age of 60 but now officers are hoping to remain in the workforce for longer.
It's a number of proposals up for discussion at the Garda Representative Association (GRA) delegate conference being held in Killarney in Kerry this week.
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Members of the GRA are also pushing for a college fees reimbursement programme to aid gardai who want a third-level qualification.
Other contentious issues which will be discussed include pay cuts, pension agreements and bullying and harassment within An Garda Siochana.
